Osaka receives 21kg of gold from mystery donor to support water repairs

An anonymous donor gave Osaka 21kg of gold bars, estimated at about ¥560 million ($3.6m), which city officials said will be used to address ageing water pipes. The donor had previously given a smaller cash gift for municipal waterworks.

Osaka officials announced that an anonymous donor gave the city 21kg (46 lb) of gold bars last November to help address its ageing water system. The bars are valued at an estimated 560 million yen (about $3.6m or £2.7m), Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama told reporters. The mayor described the amount as staggering and said he was lost for words. The donation arrives as Osaka and many Japanese cities face ageing water and sewage infrastructure and related safety concerns. Reported details: - An anonymous donor gave 21kg of gold bars to Osaka in November, valued at about 560 million yen (≈$3.6m; £2.7m). - Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said the amount was "staggering" and that he was "lost for words." - The same donor had previously given 500,000 yen in cash for municipal waterworks, officials said. - Osaka recorded more than 90 cases of water pipe leaks under roads in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the city's waterworks bureau. - Local media report that more than 20% of Japan's water pipes have passed their legal service life of 40 years, and sinkholes linked to ageing sewage pipes have been reported in recent years. Summary: City officials said the gold donation will be used to tackle deterioration and repairs in the water system, offering funds for work on ageing pipes. Officials expressed gratitude for the gift and noted the scale of infrastructure needs. Undetermined at this time.