Mystery Donor Gifts 21kg of Gold To Japanese City To Repair Ageing Water System

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Japanese city has received an extraordinary donation to help repair its ageing water infrastructure: 21kg (46lb) of gold bars.

The gold, valued at 560 million yen ($3.6m; £2.7m), was donated last November by a person who wished to remain anonymous, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama announced at a press conference on Thursday.

Osaka, home to nearly three million people and Japan’s third-largest city, is a major commercial hub in the Kansai region. But like many municipalities in the country, it faces increasing challenges from deteriorating water and sewage pipelines.

According to the city’s waterworks bureau, Osaka recorded more than 90 cases of water pipe leaks under its roads during the 2024 fiscal year. Mayor Yokoyama said addressing ageing pipes requires 'a huge investment' and expressed deep appreciation for the donation, calling the amount 'staggering' and saying he was 'lost for words.'

The same anonymous donor had previously contributed 500,000 yen in cash for municipal waterworks, the mayor said.

In a statement issued Thursday, the city’s waterworks bureau said it was grateful for the gold donation and would put it to use in tackling the deterioration of water pipes.

More than 20% of Japan’s water pipes have exceeded their legal 40-year service life, according to local media. Ageing sewage infrastructure has also contributed to an increase in sinkholes across the country.

Last year, a massive sinkhole in Saitama Prefecture swallowed the cab of a truck, killing its driver. The rupture of a sewage pipe was believed to be the cause. The tragedy prompted authorities to intensify efforts to replace corroded pipelines, though progress has been slowed by budget constraints.

Source: BBC