Last Year, Tokyo Residents Returned Rs 209 Crore To Lost & Found; 3/4 Of This Was Returned To The Owners

Despite being amongst the most crowded metropolises in the world, Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is notable for its safety and people’s vigilance to bring misplaced property including cash to the Police. Be it sunglasses, keys, even handkerchief or any other lost objects, cash worth million of dollars reaches the Lost and Found department of Tokyo.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, last year Tokyo’s Samaritans have handed over ¥3.67 billion ($32 million) in cash. Three-quarters of the cash received ended up to its rightful owners.

Some attributes of the Japanese culture reflects the devotion of the citizens to returning lost property. About ¥103 trillion in cash had circulated in 2015 which is equivalent to about 19 percent of Japan’s annual output.

Carrying cash in Japan is less risky as the country also had battled deflation for more than a decade making money profitable. After four years of Central bank’s efforts, interest rates have touched around zero.

Also in such populated city, the crime rate is very less, and there is no fear of getting robbed.

Since the city is crowded, people here in cafes reserve their seats by placing their expensive cell phone before going to order at the counter. Sometimes even the worthless, lost personal items is kept by the merchant just in case if the owner comes looking for it some day.

A former Policeman Toshinari Nishioka who is now a professor at Kansai University of International Studies says that Besides academics, Japanese schools imparts education for ethics and morality. The students learn to imagine the feelings people get who lost their money or goods.

It is not a rare sight for the Police officers to see kids bringing ¥10 coin to them.

Tokyo has also devised a rule where anyone who finds money gives it to the police and is entitled to get 5 percent to 20 percent if the owner claims it. If nobody claims it within three months, then the whole amount of money goes to the person who found it.

The Logical Indian applauds the efforts of the samaritans of Tokyo for setting a brilliant example of ethics. Every other city should take inspiration from Tokyo for collectively working towards better citizenship.

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