‘Manhole card’ collectors’ bad behavior forces some municipalities to end distribution

The town of Shari in Hokkaido stopped issuing manhole cards due to bad behavior by collectors. | THE SHARI MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT / VIA JIJI

JIJI

Nov 4, 2026

A growing number of Japanese municipalities are facing problems caused by poor behavior among collectors of the popular “manhole cards,” prompting some local governments to suspend or end distribution.

The cards, issued by municipalities across the country, have become popular among collectors, with a cumulative total of around 26 million distributed.

However, complaints about verbal abuse directed at municipal employees and illegal parking have continued, forcing some local governments to discontinue the program.

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