SAKURAI, Nara Prefecture — On June 6, the municipal government of Sakurai announced a generous donation of 20 kilograms of gold, valued at approximately 330 million yen ($2.28 million), from a local man in his 70s. The donor requested that the funds be used to improve evacuation shelters, especially for elderly residents and people with disabilities.
The donor first contacted Sakurai Mayor Masatake Matsui in February, and the donation was finalized on March 17, with a letter of appreciation presented on March 28. Mayor Matsui expressed gratitude for the significant contribution.
The donation, consisting of 20 gold ingots, was made in response to the difficult conditions faced by evacuees after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on January 1, 2024. City officials believe this is the largest individual donation to Sakurai and plan to convert the gold into cash for disaster preparedness improvements.
Source – Mainichi