On Monday, police in Niigata Prefecture announced that a report has been filed regarding the discovery of around ¥18 million (approximately $115,000) in cash. According to the police, the money was found sometime in November among waste materials on the premises of a business establishment in Niigata city by an employee. It was subsequently handed over to Niigata Kita Police Station. Details as to the exact circumstances of the discovery have not been disclosed to maintain the integrity of the investigation and to verify the identity of the true owner.
No Owner Has Come Forward
Police waited until December 8 for the owner to come forward, but as no one did, they proceeded with the announcement. Under the Lost Property Act, cash can be held by the police for up to three months from the day it was found. If the owner does not appear within that period, the person who discovered the money at the business premises will be entitled to receive it all. Police said it’s the highest amount of money found in the prefecture since statistics began being kept in 2018.
Image by Victoria Bennett
¥8 Million in Cash Found in Niigata in 2023
Niigata Kita Police Station also received a report of approximately ¥8 million in cash being found in 2023. As the owner did not come forward, the entire amount was returned to the person who reported it. That same year, ¥10 million was discovered at a recycling center in Sapporo’s Kita ward. Police said they received 16 inquiries from people stating that it might belong to them. Lost property reports were filed for 12 of the cases, but there wasn’t enough evidence to support any of the claims.
In 2024, a record ¥4.49 billion ($30 million) worth of cash was turned in as lost property in Tokyo alone, a 1.8% increase from the previous year. The largest single amount of cash was approximately ¥11.6 million. Around ¥3.2 billion was given back to the various owners, while some ¥570 million was returned to those who found the money. The rest became metropolitan government revenue. In total, around 4.4 million items were handed in to the police, including identification documents and electronic equipment.
Related Posts
- The Faces of Japan’s New Banknotes | Spotlight
- Japan To Deny Visa Renewal for Foreigners with Unpaid Pension and Health Insurance
- Prime Minister Takaichi Planning To Recommend Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Updated On December 10, 2025
