New Delhi: Japan’s third-largest city, Osaka, has received an extraordinary anonymous donation of gold bars worth JPY 560 million (approximately GBP 2.7 million) to fund the repair of its ageing water infrastructure.
According to city officials, the 21 kilograms of gold were handed over to the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau in November. The donor reportedly specified that the funds be used exclusively to address the city’s deteriorating water pipes.
Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama described the contribution as an astonishing and deeply appreciated gesture. He indicated that the scale of the donation left him overwhelmed, noting that upgrading ageing water infrastructure requires significant financial resources. The mayor expressed strong gratitude on behalf of the city administration.
Osaka, home to approximately 2.8 million residents, currently faces the urgent task of renewing around 260 kilometres of ageing water pipelines, according to theguardian.com. Officials stated that replacing just a 1.2-mile segment would cost roughly JPY 500 million, underscoring the financial burden involved in modernising the system.
City authorities also revealed that there were 92 recorded cases of water pipe leaks beneath municipal roads during the fiscal year ending March 2025, highlighting the pressing need for infrastructure upgrades.
The municipal government has confirmed that it will honour the donor’s request and allocate the funds directly toward waterworks renewal projects aimed at strengthening the city’s ageing pipeline network.
