The donation comes as Osaka faces mounting pressure to maintain ageing water infrastructure
TBS Report
22 February, 2026, 08:40 am
Last modified: 22 February, 2026, 08:44 am
Osaka authorities received 21kg of gold bullion from a mystery donor. Photo: Osaka City Waterworks Bureau
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Osaka authorities received 21kg of gold bullion from a mystery donor. Photo: Osaka City Waterworks Bureau
Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city and a major commercial hub, has received a donation of 21 kg (46 lb) in gold bars from an anonymous individual to fund repairs for its ageing water system, city officials said.
The gold, valued at approximately 560 million yen ($3.6 million), was delivered last November. The same donor had previously given 500,000 yen in cash, says the BBC.
Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama described the gift as “staggering” and expressed deep gratitude, noting that the city’s infrastructure requires “huge investment” to remain safe.
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The donation comes as Osaka faces mounting pressure to maintain ageing water infrastructure. The city recorded more than 90 water pipe leaks beneath its roads in the 2024 fiscal year alone, according to officials.
The deterioration reflects a broader national challenge. Across Japan, more than 20% of water pipes have exceeded their 40-year legal service life. Ageing sewage systems have also been linked to an increase in sinkholes.
In one notable incident last year in Saitama Prefecture, a massive sinkhole, believed to have been caused by a ruptured sewage pipe, swallowed a truck and killed its driver.
Authorities have acknowledged the urgency of replacing corroded and ageing pipes, but budget constraints have delayed renewal projects in many parts of the country.
The Osaka City Waterworks Bureau said it would put the “staggering” gold donation to use in addressing the continued deterioration of the city’s pipeline infrastructure.
AloJapan.com