On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Osaka city officials revealed that an anonymous benefactor has donated 21 kilograms of gold bars valued at approximately 560 million yen (US$3.6 million) to fund urgent repairs of the city’s aging water infrastructure.
The gold was delivered to the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau in November 2025, with instructions that the proceeds be used exclusively for upgrading and maintaining the city’s water network.
Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama described the donation as “staggering” and pledged that the funds would be directed toward critical water system repairs.
“It’s a staggering amount, and I was speechless,” Yokoyama said. “Replacing aging water pipes requires a huge investment, and I cannot thank the donor enough for this contribution.”
He added that the city will honor the donor’s wishes and use the proceeds to improve waterworks projects.
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Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city with a population of roughly 2.8 million, is grappling with extensive infrastructure challenges.
Many of its water pipes have exceeded their designed service life, and numerous leaks have been reported beneath city streets.
In the fiscal year ending March 2025, the city recorded 92 cases of water pipe leaks, according to Eiji Kotani, a city waterworks official.
Concerns over Japan’s aging infrastructure have intensified after a massive sinkhole in Saitama, north of Tokyo, swallowed a truck and killed the driver last year, highlighting the risks posed by deteriorating underground utilities.
City officials confirmed the gold will be sold and the funds applied to essential repairs and upgrades to ensure a safe and reliable water supply.
The donation has been welcomed as a rare and substantial contribution to addressing the city’s longstanding water infrastructure needs.