Last Friday the Shizuoka Municipal Government finally announced the creation of a new Fire hydrant manhole cover to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the death of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sumpu Castle.
I decided some more investigation was in order and I visited the Shizuoka City Hall to find out where it was exhibited.
It wasn’t.
And nobody could tell me where to find it until a nice lady civil servant did some research and told me I would have to go to a Shizuoka City Works Office Water Distribution Department in Nishinakahara on the other side of the station! I actually cycled the wrong way, had to ask the way in a police station who didn’t know much more than me in spite of my 38-year residency.

南安倍取水場/Minami Abe (of Abe River) Water Pumping Site! Lucky I can read Japanese!

Looking at the nondescript building/office there is no way to know where you are.
Lucky that nice lady back in the Shizuoka City Hall did some good investigative wrok for me!
Not only this but she had forewarned a young civil servant of my coming!
And the least I can say is that he was ready with information and manhole covers!
But let’s have a look around first!

Cover for access a small to medium water valve!

The smallest type of cover for access to a water valve!

Mr. Yuuta Fujii/藤井勇太さん to whom I’m indebted for the whole investigation!

The three types of manhole covers (plus the smaller ones) this particular office is in charge of installing and maintaining!
There are other types for electricity, gas, drainage waters, sewers, but they all are the reposiblity of as many offices! No wonder it is so difficult to find out information!

The traditional fire fighting festival pole, “matoi/纏”!

The traditional three fire fighting festival pole, a model probably older and definitely rarer!

The cover commemorating the 400th anniversary of the coming of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu to Sumpu Castle

Most of the above three covers will be replaced with the new one in the two months to come.
Hurry to take photos of them before they disappear!

The design of the new cover to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the death of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sumpu Castle!

Mr. Fujii had prepared color copies of the information for me!
The design represents Mount Fuji, Miho no Matsubara Beach, Kunozan Toshogun Shrine and Suruga Bay!
Relief accounts fro 54.56% of the surface!

The plaque is fabricated by a Shizuoka Company called Hinode Suidou Kiki Co.!

40 covers will be fabricated for a total cost of 2,500,000 yen.
Each cover diameter is 530 mm, and each will weigh 24 kg!

They will be installed to replace ld types around Sumpu Park and along the route from Shizuoka JR Station to the Sengen Shrine!

Mr. Fujii has promised to call me when the first cover will be installed for the benefit of the media!
New report in the offing, then!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City