An anonymous donor has handed over 21 kilograms of gold bars worth roughly $3.6 million to help repair ageing water pipes in Osaka, Japan.
City officials confirmed the hefty bounty of gold will be used to fund urgent infrastructure upgrades as the city grapples with the rising cost of maintaining decades-old systems.
According to Associated Press News, the gold was donated to the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau in November.
The 21 kilograms, around 46 pounds, are valued at approximately 560 million yen, or about $3.6 million. Officials said the donor requested the proceeds be used specifically to repair and upgrade the city’s ageing pipeline network.
Japanese city gifted gold by unknown person
Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said he was stunned by the scale of the contribution.
“It’s a staggering amount, and I was speechless,” Yokoyama said. “Tackling aging water pipes requires a huge investment, and I cannot thank you enough for the donation.”
Osaka, like many cities and towns across the country is dealing with infrastructure installed during the post-war boom that is now reaching the end of its lifespan.
The city plans to sell the gold and use the funds to support water system repairs, and officials have not disclosed any details about the donor’s identity.
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened, as in 2025, an elderly man donated gold bars worth over $2 million USD to the city of Nara to help improve evacuation shelters.
