TOKYO — The city of Osaka has received an anonymous donation of gold bars worth 560 million yen (approximately $3.6 million) earmarked specifically for the repair of its aging water infrastructure, city officials confirmed.
The 21 kilograms (46 pounds) of gold were handed over to the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau in November. The unidentified donor requested that the funds be used to address the city’s deteriorating water pipes.
Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama described the contribution as extraordinary.
“It’s a staggering amount and I was speechless,” Yokoyama told reporters Thursday. “Tackling aging water pipes requires a huge investment, and I cannot thank enough for the donation.”
He said the city would honor the donor’s request and allocate the proceeds to waterworks improvement projects.
Public concern over infrastructure safety has grown following a deadly sinkhole incident last year that swallowed a truck and killed its driver. The accident was linked to a damaged sewer in Saitama, north of Tokyo.
In Osaka alone, there were 92 reported cases of water pipe leaks beneath city roads during the fiscal year that ended in March 2025, according to Eiji Kotani, a waterworks official who spoke to The Associated Press.
Much of Japan’s core public infrastructure was constructed during the country’s rapid postwar economic expansion, and many systems are now reaching the end of their service life.
Osaka, a major regional commercial hub, underwent urban development earlier than many other Japanese cities, resulting in its water pipes and related infrastructure aging sooner, Kotani explained.
City officials estimate that Osaka must replace approximately 259 kilometers (160 miles) of water pipes. Renewing just a two-kilometer (1.2-mile) section is projected to cost around 500 million yen (about $3.2 million).
The gold donation, while significant, highlights the scale of the investment required to modernize essential infrastructure in one of Japan’s largest cities.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
