Kyoto City to sell 3 used Maintenance Hole Covers to the Public for 1st Time

Friday, October 13, 2023
Kyoto City to sell 3 used Maintenance Hole Covers to the Public for 1st Time

The municipal government here will sell three used iron maintenance hole lids to the general public for the first time for 5,500 yen (about $37) each.

The city had previously sold unwanted sewage maintenance hole covers as scrap iron for about 3,000 yen (roughly $20) each to a vendor, but it decided to raise the price in anticipation of demand for "local maintenance hole" lids, which are unique to each municipality and have become increasingly popular among collectors in recent years.

There are three types of covers to be sold to the public, manufactured in 1978, 1981 and 1990. They are 66 centimeters in diameter and 80 to 90 kilograms in weight. The one made in 1990 is decorated with a pattern of wheels of a "court carriage" in reference to the ancient capital, while the lids made in 1978 and 1981, before the popularization of regional designs, have a simple pattern with the city emblem at the center. All of them have rust and scratches as they had been in use for more than 30 years.

According to the Kyoto City Water Supply and Sewerage Bureau, there are approximately 160,000 maintenance holes in the city. The standard service life of the covers is 15 years on roadways and 30 years on sidewalks, according to the national government, and about 1,500 lids are replaced each year in the city. The general sale of maintenance hole covers is intended to increase interest in sewage systems and generate revenue effectively. An official said, "We will sell three pieces as a starter in order to understand the needs. If they are well received, we would like to sell more."

Stephanie Cime

ArtDependence WhatsApp Group

Get the latest ArtDependence updates directly in WhatsApp by joining the ArtDependence WhatsApp Group by clicking the link or scanning the QR code below

whatsapp-qr

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Image of the Day

Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.

Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.

Search

About ArtDependence

ArtDependence Magazine is an international magazine covering all spheres of contemporary art, as well as modern and classical art.

ArtDependence features the latest art news, highlighting interviews with today’s most influential artists, galleries, curators, collectors, fair directors and individuals at the axis of the arts.

The magazine also covers series of articles and reviews on critical art events, new publications and other foremost happenings in the art world.

If you would like to submit events or editorial content to ArtDependence Magazine, please feel free to reach the magazine via the contact page.