Tokyo, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–Some Japanese municipalities are facing a growing number of problems stemming from poor manners among collectors of their popular manhole cards, which feature unique manhole cover designs from across the country. Some local governments have suspended their manhole card distribution programs because of problems including collectors’ abusive behavior toward municipal employees and illegal parking. Since 2016, municipalities have allocated funds to produce manhole cards to promote sewerage services and tourism. About the size of a business card, each features a photograph of a manhole cover and its location on the front and an explanation of its design on the back. The cumulative number of manhole cards issued in Japan has reached about 26 million. The cards are distributed free of charge, with one offered per person at “michi no eki” roadside stations, tourist information centers and other locations. Reflecting their growing popularity, as many as 4,000 cards have been distributed in a single day, according to a municipal official. The city of Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, began distributing manhole cards featuring “Higashihiroshima-yaki,” a local variation of “okonomiyaki” savory pancakes, in July, but suspended the program at the end of September. Hirotoshi Owa, 56, head of the city’s sewerage management division, said visitors had parked on a narrow road in front of the tourist information center where the cards were distributed, preventing local residents from passing through. He also said staff at the tourist information center had been subjected to verbal abuse, including demands that they “hurry up.” Manhole cards distributed at a michi no eki facility by the town of Shari in Hokkaido, northern Japan, featured illustrations of the Shiretoko Peninsula and local wildlife. The town ended the program in February last year, however, citing complaints from collectors and their poor manners. Koji Otoma, 52, head of the town’s waterworks division, expressed disappointment, saying that the cards had quickly run out of stock because of their popularity and that staff members had been shouted at by visitors who were unable to obtain them. “As the cards were distributed as a goodwill gesture, we concluded that it would be difficult to continue the program,” he said. Otoma added that the town had considered printing additional cards if distribution had proceeded smoothly, but it currently has no plans to resume the program. According to the Manhole Card Promotion Foundation, other problems have emerged, including attempts to obtain cards for resale and collectors changing their clothes or disguising themselves to obtain multiple copies of the same card. The city of Higashihiroshima is currently searching for a new distribution site. Owa urged collectors to “observe proper manners so that municipal operations are not disrupted.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
