Mysterious Donor Gives 21 Kg of Gold Bars to Japanese City Government
A city in Japan has received a donation of 21 kilogrammes of gold bars to repair its ageing water pipe network.
The gold bars, estimated to be worth 560 million yen (equivalent to approximately Rp60 billion), were given last November by an anonymous donor, according to Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama at a press conference on Thursday (19 February).
Osaka, home to nearly three million people, is a commercial hub located in the Kansai region and Japan’s third-largest city.
However, like many cities in Japan, Osaka’s water pipes and sewerage systems have aged considerably, causing widespread concern among residents.
According to the city’s waterworks bureau, Osaka recorded more than 90 cases of water pipe leaks from pipes buried beneath roads in 2024.
“Addressing ageing water pipes requires significant investment. So I very much appreciate this,” Yokoyama told reporters when asked about the gold donation.
Yokoyama said the quantity of gold bars was “truly astonishing” and that he was “lost for words”.
The same mysterious donor had previously given 500,000 yen (equivalent to approximately Rp54 million) in cash for the city’s water installations, he added.
Osaka’s waterworks bureau released a statement on Thursday (19 February), expressing gratitude for the gold donation and pledging to make the best possible use of it, including addressing water pipe deterioration.
Notably, more than 20 per cent of water pipes across Japan have exceeded their official 40-year service life, according to local media.
Ground subsidence has also become increasingly frequent in Japanese cities, many of which have ageing sewerage infrastructure.
Last year, a large sinkhole in Saitama Prefecture swallowed a lorry, killing its driver. The sinkhole was believed to have been caused by a burst sewage pipe.
The incident prompted Japanese authorities to step up efforts to replace corroded pipes across the country. However, budget constraints continue to hinder pipe renewal works.