When submitting a Wayspot Appeal, make sure to include as much of the following information as possible:
- Wayspot Title: 伊勢物語 在原業平の和歌碑
- Location (lat/lon):（35.0110783, 137.0732423）
- City:Yatsuhashi-cho, Chiryu-shi
- Country:Japan
- Screenshot of the Rejection Email (do not include your personal information): Nothing
- Additional Information (if any): This Wayspot was recently approved but disappeared shortly after. I am requesting its restoration based on its unique cultural and educational value.
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Unique Local Heritage (Not a Mass-Produced Item)
While this is a pavement-style monument (manhole cover), it is not a mass-produced, generic design. This specific design exists only in Yatsuhashi-cho, the actual setting of “The Tales of Ise” (Ise Monogatari). It features a famous waka poem by Ariwara no Narihira. Just like the “Artistic Manholes” in other regions that are widely accepted as Wayspots, this is a unique piece of local “utility art” that represents our town’s identity.
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Educational Value for the Community
I applied for this spot hoping it would encourage local children to learn about their history and classical Japanese literature. Discovering this poem through the game provides a vital educational “touchpoint” for the next generation to connect with the heritage of their birthplace.
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Safety and Permanence
The monument is permanently fixed to a wide, safe sidewalk with excellent pedestrian access. It does not obstruct traffic or pose any safety risks.
I believe this site perfectly fulfills the criteria for “Exploration” and “Cultural Significance.”
Please reconsider and restore this valuable landmark for our community and its children.
Nice to meet you, and welcome to the forum.
Since this was posted on the Global Forum, I’ll reply in English.
This is a screenshot from Google Maps Street View. The location you submitted is the spot circled in green and indicated by an arrow. You can clearly see from Street View that there is indeed a manhole cover there. It is located on the sidewalk, which is a safe area. However, the design of the manhole cover you submitted is also found at the location I have circled in red. Upon searching the surrounding area, I found numerous others on the roadway as well. It is clear that this is a mass-produced item. Even if the design is unique to Yatsuhashi-cho, the purpose of this cover is to seal the sewer access point on the street so that it does not cause foul odors or obstruct traffic. It is not the case that this particular design can only be found at this specific location.
Next, I will point out a more serious violation.
Please look at the manhole cover circled in red in the foreground of this screenshot. The cracks in the asphalt around the cover appear to match those in the cover you submitted. The green marker indicates the location you submitted. There are no cracks there. This Street View image is from 14 years ago. It’s so old that it’s practically useless as a reference.
This is a screenshot from 2023. It’s quite hard to see because it’s so far away, but you can make out cracks in the asphalt between the two red lines. I can’t confirm the cracks on the top of the manhole cover you photographed because it’s too far away. However, with this much evidence, it’s clear that you made it appear as though the manhole cover on the roadway was actually on the sidewalk.
This is a website introducing the manhole covers in Chiryu City, which was formed through the merger of Yatsuhashi Town. Did you happen to see a mass-produced manhole cover featuring a kakitsubata design at the location I marked in green? Please let us know the truth.
Thank you for your detailed investigation. After reviewing the official resources and the points you raised, I realized that my submission and appeal were based on a complete misunderstanding. I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for this error.
The cause of my confusion was the map display within the Niantic Wayfarer app. As shown in the attached screenshot, the marker for my original submission appeared to be on the sidewalk rather than the roadway. Trusting this visual feedback, I mistakenly believed the “Waka Poem” manhole was located on the safe sidewalk area.
Furthermore, because the Wayspot had already disappeared from the map, I relied on my memory and the inaccurate app marker to identify the location, which led to this incorrect appeal.
I now understand that the poem design is indeed on the roadway, and the sidewalk features the standard “Kakitsubata” design.
I had no intention of deceiving the community or violating Niantic’s terms. My only goal was to share our local history with the children in my neighborhood, but I failed to verify the physical details with enough accuracy.
I would like to withdraw my appeal immediately. I am deeply sorry for wasting your time and for any confusion caused. I will take this as a serious lesson and ensure that all my future submissions are 100% accurate.
