The new manhole covers feature two characters strongly associated with the city: Takajo-kun, a “PR character” created by the city specifically for foreigners, and Poki, the character for Mitaka City created by Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki.
While Takajo-kun will be appearing on manhole covers at two locations in Mitaka, the Miyazaki-designed Poki character will be scattered around the city at ten different locations, listed below.
The tree-side locations for the Poki manhole covers have been cleverly chosen, as the character, first designed in 2001 to commemorate the opening of the Ghibli Museum, is said to live in Mitaka’s forest areas.