Mystery donor sends two gold bars to Ishinomaki

National Feb. 15, 2013 - 03:30PM JST ( 13 )

MIYAGI —

An unidentified donor has sent two small gold bars to the president of Ishinomaki fish market in Miyagi Prefecture to help with the rebuilding of the town’s economy, which was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11, 2011.

The two gold bars, which weigh a kilogram each and are worth 10 million yen, were sent to the fish market by special delivery addressed from the “Earthquake and Tsunami Aid Association.” Although no note was included in the package, it was sent from Nagano, NHK quoted officials as saying, adding that no such association exists in Nagano.

The fishing yields around the town remain at around half the amount caught before the disaster.

Japan Today

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13 Comments

1

tokyo-starFeb. 15, 2013 - 02:28PM JST

Nice to see that there are still some good people left in the world.
2

AKBfanFeb. 15, 2013 - 02:44PM JST

Is a ikg gold bar small?
3

boraxFeb. 15, 2013 - 02:48PM JST

Sending gold bars instead of cash, or furikomi...generous, AND badass.
2

papigiulioFeb. 15, 2013 - 03:07PM JST

1 bar is worth an estimated 1000 万 yen. This person has donated more than 100 times my monthly salary heh. good god.
0

yokattaFeb. 15, 2013 - 04:10PM JST

Gold bars?? How about making an effort to withdraw cash from the bank? Anyways, a kind donation which is much needed there.
-1

tajFeb. 15, 2013 - 04:36PM JST

Awesome!

Wasn't there a large (somehwhat tacky) gold object stolen from a museum or temple in western Japan 2 or 3 years ago,... Anyone remember such a thing?
-1

tajFeb. 15, 2013 - 04:40PM JST

OK, so a LARGE bar is apparently 100kg. And that robbery was in 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6464389.stm

I wonder if these two small bars are possibly chips of this larger block.

At anyrate, I'm hoping the Fish Market is able to promptly cash in and use the proceeds. Well done anonymous donor!
1

rickyveeFeb. 15, 2013 - 04:58PM JST

sometimes it takes a story like this to reaffirm your faith in humanity. now, get out of my way as i try to grab that empty seat on the train!
0

BalefireFeb. 15, 2013 - 05:18PM JST

A particularly generous gesture, since the price of gold has been going up recently.
0

Surf O'HolicFeb. 15, 2013 - 05:19PM JST

Amazingly generous.
1

SpankiFeb. 15, 2013 - 05:30PM JST

Yaks
0

Kyle AlpertFeb. 15, 2013 - 07:56PM JST

Makes me wonder how many out here are secretly stashing gold...
0

Cortes ElijahFeb. 15, 2013 - 09:45PM JST

Sounds like ninja payments