Record ¥4.5 billion in lost cash turned in to Tokyo police in 2025

In Tokyo, a record 4.5 billion yen ($29 million) in lost cash was turned in to police in 2025, slightly higher than the previous year. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, this trend highlights Japan’s strong culture of honesty, where people often return lost money and belongings instead of keeping them.

A large portion of the lost money came from public places such as supermarkets, where customers sometimes forgot to collect their change at self-checkout machines. The biggest single amount returned was 27 million yen. Of the total money collected, about 3.23 billion yen was successfully returned to the original owners, while around 590 million yen was rewarded to the people who found and reported it. The remaining amount became government revenue.

In addition to cash, a record 4.5 million lost items were handed in, including driver’s licenses and small electronic devices like wireless earphones. The increase in returned items reflects a continued sense of civic responsibility in Japan, where people are encouraged to act honestly and consider the well-being of others.

Edited using generative AI tools.
Source : https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260302/p2g/00m/0na/030000c

Comprehension

How much lost cash was turned in to police in Tokyo in 2025?
What does this trend suggest about Japanese society?
Where did most of the lost money cases come from?
How much money was returned to the original owners?
What types of items are commonly handed in to the police?

Discussion

Why do you think people in Japan are very honest when it comes to lost items?
What would you do if you found a large amount of money in public?
Is civic honesty common in your country? Why or why not?
Should people always return lost items, even if no one is watching? Why?
Do you think rewards (like finder’s fees) encourage honesty?
What are common items people lose in your area?
How can governments promote honesty among citizens?
Have you ever lost something valuable? What happened?

Vocabulary

Civic honesty – Being truthful and responsible as a member of society
Lost property – Items that have been misplaced or lost
Revenue – Income received by the government or organization
Facility – A place designed for a specific purpose (e.g., supermarket)
Identification – Documents that prove a person’s identity
Reward – Something given in return for a good action
Statistics – Numerical data used for analysis
Responsibility – The duty to behave correctly and make good decisions