Photo: Pakutaso
national

Osaka residents find mysterious cash gifts in their letterboxes

20 Comments
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24

In a residential area of Asahi Ward in Osaka City, a series of peculiar incidents has been occurring. Residents have been opening their mailboxes to find envelopes filled with cash.

According to reports, the “mystery money” first appeared at the end of October, when one resident opened an unmarked brown envelope that had been left in their postbox. Soon after, other residents in the neighborhood began receiving similar brown envelopes, with the surprise cash gifts popping up through November and right up until early December.

The mysterious cash deliveries were concentrated on one street in the area, with money appearing in postboxes along both sides of the narrow street. The envelopes contained varying amounts of cash, from several thousand yen to over 10,000 yen. One resident said they received an envelope containing one 10,000-yen note and three 1,000-yen notes, amounting to a cash present of 13,000 yen.

The total amount of money given away in this surprise cash bonanza came to over 200,000 yen, and that’s just what’s been confirmed by residents who phoned the police about it. According to police, it’s perfectly legal for residents to use the money that was given to them without reporting it, but some residents say that although they were grateful for the cash boost, they were uncomfortable about receiving it so reported it to the authorities.

Both residents and authorities have no idea where the money came from, or why it suddenly appeared in letterboxes in this particular neighborhood. People online, however, had a go at solving the mystery, saying:

“Could it be Santa?”

“Santa sure is generous in Osaka!”

“I hope it’s not criminal money…”

“Yakuza money laundering? And if you use it you’ll be blackmailed?”

“I bet it was an annoying YouTuber doing it for a reaction video.”

“Sad none of these houses had surveillance cameras. Maybe that’s why this street was chosen?”

Despite all the theories, we may never know the true answer to this puzzling mystery. Sometimes it’s impossible to know exactly why these things happen.

Given the cash was distributed close to Christmas, though, there is a chance that Japan’s own pseudo-Santa Claus, Tiger Mask, may have had something to do with it.

Source: Abema Times via Hachima Kiko

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Unknown person leaves thousands in cash and gift certificates in dozens of mailboxes in Japan

-- Kobe hospital gets anonymous 5 million yen cash donation, gives it back, gets it again, keeps it

-- That time a stranger gave us money on a Japanese train

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

20 Comments
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Just considered it a santa present and use it to enjoy a good meal with your family during the holidays.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Could be the Yakuza or a bribe as that is how money was delivered traditionally in the past. As we know there ain’t no Santa.

-19 ( +5 / -24 )

Possibly someone who embezzled and now feels guilty about it. Or a Robin Hood type character.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Hopefully a gift but I could also see Yakuza turning up and saying you owe us for the money and XX% interest

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

The lovely spirit of Christmas, I am moving to Asahi Ward in Osaka City,

0 ( +3 / -3 )

is this newsworthy?

i guess not...

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

It could be another reasonñ the person suffers from bipolar dissorder and is in the manic phase. I know by personal experience having done exactly the same.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

As we know there ain’t no Santa.

is this newsworthy?

don’t be a Grinch !

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Those of you talking about the Yakuza are somewhat deluded. Do you really believe that the Yaks concern themselves with such vast amounts of cash?

The envelopes contained varying amounts of cash, from several thousand yen to over 10,000 yen.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

yay christmas presents for the kids!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Send some of that money to Tokyo!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

We have some real yakuza experts in here. Please shed more insight!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I wish he’d come round this part of Osaka, the missus is dropping hints about wanting another new handbag.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

What planet you live on Steve. Of course Santa is real and this article proves it. Also Steve spotted around the streets was Reindeer droppings

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Merry Christmas. That's amusing: the Yakuza did it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Nice! A lot of folks need it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not many places other than Japan, where if people found envelope of cash delivered in their mailbox would they call police. The honesty in Japan is extremely rare around the world. In the US, you would likely not hear a peep out of the residents. Lol.

It might not be Yakuza. It could just be a generous person being a secret Santa to his neighbors.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I am a gaijin, maybe this is the reason there is no money in my mailbox? Still waiting...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

maybe we should all move there?

Merry Xmas everyone!! xxx

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Better than the crappy Japanese government then!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

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