Japanese Man Donates Gold to Help Fix Osaka's Water Pipes
- 21 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Imagine working in the city's Waterworks Bureau and discovering an anonymous man had delivered millions of dollars worth of gold on the express instruction that it be used to fix Osaka's dilapidated water piping. Well, it happened.
Sealed in protective polythene, 21 kilograms of glistening gold bars arrived at the city office, prompting the local mayor to announce: “It’s a staggering amount and I was speechless,” adding that "tackling ageing water pipes requires a huge investment, and I cannot thank enough for the donation.” Built in the post-war economic boom, roughly 160 miles of Osaka's water pipes need replacing, and the total investment to do so is far more than the generously donated gold. But such a magnanimous gesture by a private citizen has left the honour-conscious Japanese in the city’s government humbled.
The mayor said the city - Japan’s third largest, with 2.8 million people - would respect the donor’s wishes and use the gift to improve waterworks projects.
Gold has experienced a historic surge over the past 12 months, with prices increasing by approximately 75 percent as of February 2026, driven by high geopolitical risk and central bank buying. So, that makes the 21 kilograms of donated gold worth around $3.6 million - a very handy contribution to fixing Osaka's water pipes.
