In Tokyo, a metropolis with over 14 million inhabitants, the loss of personal items such as wallets, keys or umbrellas rarely results in a problem. Thanks to a highly organized system and an ingrained culture of respect for the property of others, the recovery of lost objects is almost guaranteed.
There local police plays a crucial role, managing an efficient center dedicated exclusively to collection, cataloging and return of these items. According to Hiroshi Fujii, a 67-year-old tour guide, foreign visitors are often surprised to get their belongings back.
This system is not only based on the efficiency of the authorities, but also on a cultural habit transmitted over generations: promptly report found objects in public spaces. Citizens, in fact, consider it natural hand over what they find to the policewhich then sorts the items to the appropriate centres.
There is an entire floor dedicated to umbrellas
The main center, located in the Iidabashi neighborhood, is run by around 80 people. Every object is labeled, cataloged and entered into a databasemaking it easily traceable by the owners. Common lost items include IDs, phones and wallets.
However, the system also deals with less conventional objects, such as pets: dogs, cats, and even iguanas or flying squirrels are looked after carefully, thanks to the advice of veterinarians and specialized manuals, until they are returned to their owners.
In 2023, Tokyo centers handled over four million lost items, with a rate of 70% refund for those of greater value. Umbrellas, however, are an exception: out of 300,000 delivered in the same year, only a small percentage were claimed. Due to their large number, the center dedicated an entire floor to umbrellasparticularly during the rainy season.
If no one claims an item within three months, it comes sold or eliminated. The efficiency of the system, active since the 1950s, continues to amaze. With the increase in post-pandemic tourism and the spread of ever-smaller devices, such as wireless earphones and portable fans, the number of lost items is growingbut the Japanese system still manages to maintain its impeccable reputation. This combination of organization, culture of respect and technological innovation makes Tokyo a unique model in the management of lost objects.
