• Osaka received 21 kg of gold bars worth approximately $3.6 million from an anonymous donor.
• The donation aims to address significant issues with the city's aging water infrastructure.
• Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama expressed gratitude, emphasizing the urgent need for improvements.
• Osaka has reported over 90 cases of water pipe leaks in the past fiscal year.
• The city plans to use the funds to repair and renew essential waterworks systems.

Osaka, Japan, has received a remarkable gift of 21 kg of gold bars, valued at about $3.6 million, to assist in fixing its aging water pipes. This anonymous donation was officially announced by Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, who stated that the gold was delivered to the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau last November and will be used specifically for infrastructure improvements. Mayor Yokoyama expressed deep appreciation for the "staggering" amount, stressing that addressing the issues of outdated water systems requires significant investment, a sentiment shared by officials at the waterworks bureau, according to BBC, CBS News, and Los Angeles Times.

The city's infrastructure has been a growing concern; with Osaka's population nearing 2.8 million, managing the city's aging water and sewage systems remains critical. In the 2024 fiscal year, over 90 cases of water pipe leaks were recorded, highlighting the urgent need for repair. This donation is particularly timely following a tragic incident in which a massive sinkhole due to a damaged sewer pipe resulted in a fatality in nearby Saitama, underscoring the risks associated with dilapidated infrastructure, reports India Times, and Los Angeles Times.

City officials indicated that the gold donation will initially be converted into cash to fund urgent waterworks needs, particularly focusing on areas where failures are most likely, including chronic drain clogs and leak-prone pipes. Mayor Yokoyama vowed that all spending would adhere to municipal guidelines and ensure transparency, as the city has pledged to track expenditures through standard oversight mechanisms, according to BBC, CBS News, and India Times.