General

A city in Japan has received a significant gift to help repair its old water system: 21 kilograms (46 pounds) of gold bars. These gold bars are valued at approximately 560 million yen (about $3.6 million or £2.7 million). The donation was made last November by an anonymous donor, as announced by Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama during a press conference on Thursday. Osaka, which is home to nearly three million residents, is a major commercial center in Japan's Kansai region and is the country's third-largest city. Like many other cities in Japan, Osaka faces issues with its aging water and sewage pipes, which raises safety concerns. In the 2024 fiscal year, Osaka reported over 90 instances of water pipe leaks beneath its streets, according to the city's waterworks bureau. Mayor Yokoyama expressed his gratitude for the generous gold donation, stating, “Addressing old water pipes needs a lot of investment. I am very thankful.” He described the amount as “staggering” and admitted he was “lost for words.” The same anonymous donor had previously contributed 500,000 yen in cash for water system improvements, he noted. The waterworks bureau of the city released a statement on Thursday, expressing appreciation for the gold donation and confirming plans to use it for important repairs, including fixing the old water pipes.