Mysterious Donor Gifts Osaka City 21 Kilograms of Gold to Repair Aging Water System

Osaka. The city of Osaka has received a substantial donation from a mysterious benefactor to repair its deteriorating local water system. According to the Osaka Municipal Government, an unidentified individual donated 21 kilograms of gold. This is equivalent to approximately 560 million yen (3.6 million US dollars).

Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama announced the donation at a press conference on Thursday. According to him, the donor requested that their identity remain confidential. Osaka, home to about 3 million people, is a major commercial hub in Japan's Kansai region and the country's third-largest city. Like many Japanese cities, aging water and sewage pipes have become a growing concern in Osaka.

According to the city's Waterworks Bureau, more than 90 incidents of water pipe leakage under the streets were recorded in the 2024 fiscal year alone. Mayor Yokoyama stated that such a large donation is extremely surprising. He added that this will provide significant relief at a time when major investment is needed for the maintenance of the water system. He also disclosed that the same donor had previously provided 500,000 yen in cash assistance for the municipal water service.