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The Mainichi
a day ago
- General
- The Mainichi
Elderly resident donates gold worth over $2 million to Nara Pref. city for disaster relief
SAKURAI, Nara -- The municipal government here announced on June 6 that it had received a donation of 20 kilograms of gold -- worth approximately 330 million yen (about $2.28 million) -- from a local man in his 70s, who requested that the funds be used to improve evacuation shelters in times of disaster. According to city officials, the donor contacted Sakurai Mayor Masatake Matsui by letter in early February to express his desire to donate the gold bars. The donation itself was completed on March 17, and the city presented him with an official letter of appreciation on March 28. Matsui expressed gratitude for the generous contribution, saying, "We sincerely appreciate this donation and will ensure it is used meaningfully." The donated gold consisted of 20, 1-kilogram ingots. The donor reportedly accumulated the bars little by little over many years. He decided to give the bars to his city after learning that evacuees struggled with inadequate toilet facilities following the Jan. 1, 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. He expressed hope that the funds would help create a better environment at evacuation shelters for elderly residents and people with disabilities. City officials believe this is likely the largest individual donation to Sakurai. The city plans to seek approval from the municipal assembly to convert the precious metal into cash. (Japanese original by Yasuyoshi Mochizuki, Sakurai Local Bureau)
The Mainichi
24-04-2025
- The Mainichi
Japan Photo Journal: 'Ghost mushroom's' pure white flowers bloom at Nara Pref. shrine
Pure white "ginryoso" flowers, or Monotropastrum humile, bloom among fallen leaves at Oomiwa Jinja shrine in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, on April 22, 2025. They have begun to bloom in various spots on the Shinto shrine grounds, and are apparently expected to be at their best until around the end of April. Ginryoso is a saprophytic plant in the heath family that grows to a height of 10 to 20 centimeters. It is also referred to in Japanese as "yurei-dake," literally meaning ghost mushroom, due to its appearance. A shrine spokesperson commented, "We want visitors to enjoy discovering these quietly blooming, delicate flowers." (Japanese original by Yasuyoshi Mochizuki, Sakurai Local Bureau)
