Japan city gets $3.6 mn donation in gold to fix water system

Tokyo: Osaka has received an unusual donation 21 kilograms of gold to pay for the maintenance of its ageing water system, the Japanese commercia...

Tokyo: Osaka has received an unusual donation -- 21 kilograms of gold -- to pay for the maintenance of its ageing water system, the Japanese commercial hub announced Thursday.

The donation worth $3.6 million was made in November by a person who a month earlier had already given $3,300 in cash for the municipal waterworks, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama told a press conference.

"It's an absolutely staggering amount," said Yokoyama, adding that he was lost for words to express his gratitude.

"I was shocked."

The donor wished to remain anonymous, the mayor said.