Osaka has received an unusual donation -- 21 kilograms of gold -- to pay for the maintenance of its aging water system, the Japanese commercial hub announced Thursday.
The donation worth 566 million yen at the time, was made in November by a person who a month earlier had already given 500,000 yen in cash for the municipal waterworks, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama told a press conference.
"It's an absolutely staggering amount," said Yokoyama, adding that he was lost for words to express his gratitude. "I was shocked."
The donor wished to remain anonymous, the mayor said.
Work to replace water pipes in Osaka, a city of 2.8 million residents, has hit a snag as the actual cost exceeded the planned budget, according to local media.
© 2026 AFP
8 Comments
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Gail
That is a wonderful deed.
Vanillasludge
It was probably cluttering up the house anyway.
How many times have we all stubbed our toe on our 21kg lump of gold just sitting around? It’s that or stepping on a Lego…the worst!
MichaelBukakis
So will Osaka city pay the 50% tax on capital gains on gold sales when it converts it into cash? Methinks not.
daito_hak
The fact that the third largest city in Japan needs donation to maintain its water system should be the main topic of this uselessly written article.
P_C
"The miser does not own the gold, the gold owns the miser"
in this case, not any more.
nickybutt
The city officals are now dancing to Spandau Ballet in their office.
SaikoPhysco
Nice donation but might this be just "a drop in the bucket", overall to how much it will actually cost?
browny1
Saiko - Agree.
While appreciated, the amount will be dwarfed by the untold $billions required to upgrade an outdated ageing system and infrastructure. Fixing a few pipes and a bit more, will see the money disappear
The best idea imo would be to set up a scholarship fund with the money and award fully funded scholarships to students taking up Hydraulic / Hydrological Engineering studies.
The scholarship criteria should include the necessity upon graduation, to work for the Osaka engineering department for an extended time, helping logistically the huge undertakings.