Honest People in Japan

I am always happy to read about how lost money and items are turned in to be reunited with the owners in Japan.  Tokyo Police reported a record 4.49 BILLION yen in cash was turned in as lost property in 2024. This was up 1.8% from 2023. The largest single amount of cash turned in to the police department’s lost and found in 2024 was 11.6 million yen. 

Of the money turned in, about 3.2 billion yen was returned to various owners, while about 570 million yen was given to those who turned in the money. Around 660 million yen that was unclaimed became Tokyo Metropolitan government revenue. 

In addition to money, about 4.4 million items were turned in. This is up 7.8 % from 2023 and a record high. Drivers licenses and identification documents made up the majority of items turned in, at about 830,000. The police department reported that there was a large increase in electronic items, such as wireless earphones and e-cigarettes. 

Have you ever lost something and had it returned to you? I left a hat on the bus in Hokkaido and was able to get it back the same day. My students told me various stories about losing wallets or phones or keys when drinking and getting the items back.