World

Honesty: Japanese Have Returned $78 Million in Found Cash Since Quake

Japan lacks the “finders keepers” mentality in moments of crisis, unlike London where looters have taken advantage of recent vulnerable situations. Five months after the earthquake hit, more than $78 million has been recovered and most returned to rightful owners.

Millions in Yen Recovered and Returned to Owners After Earthquake

Workers sift through rubble left from the March earthquake in Japan. So far more than $78 million has been recovered and returned. (AP)

According to the Daily Mail [via Gizmodo], after the March earthquake more than 5,700 safes, purses and wallets have been found among the rubble and washed up on shore, totaling up to $78 million in cash. And it‘s all being returned if identifying the owner is possible and if they’re still living.

Japan’s National Police Agency said nearly all the money found in the areas worst hit by the tsunami has been returned to its owners.

Most people kept bankbooks or land rights documents with their names and addresses in their safes.

At one point, there were so many safes handed in to police that they had difficulty finding room to store them.

Police hired specialists to crack the safes and identify owners, if alive. As the Daily Mail reports, Koetsu Saiki of the Miyagi Prefectural Police says that he’s sure some of the safes from abandoned or destroyed homes were stolen. But Ryuji Ito, professor emeritus at Yokohama City University, said “the fact that a hefty 2.3 billion yen in cash has been returned to its owners shows the high level of ethical awareness in the Japanese people.”

Comments (57)

1 2
  • affinnity
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 10:07am

    The Japanese are an honest and loyal people. Not exactly the qualities the UN and NWO appreciate.

    Prepare.

    Report Post » affinnity  
    • chazman
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:31pm

      …this is one of the most incredible stories I’ve heard this year. It makes me sad though, that most of that money belonged to people who are no longer alive … and all those children in daycare centers still waiting to be picked up by their parents, two weeks after the Tsunami … horrifying.

      Report Post »  
  • db321
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 8:59am

    You Never have make excuses for integrity – if you lack integrity then just blame it on Bush.

    Report Post » db321  
  • I_will_say_this_one_more_time
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 8:37am

    I sit here shaking my head. Where their morals are golden and shine like a glimmering lake. I see our youth in their FLASH MOBS wrecking society, assaulting innocents, causing mayhem. Then I think of LBJ’s Progressive Great Society and say…those we have left without a family structure now live unstructured lives that have been handed down to them through single Mom to single Mom. Democrats ride that wave for more and more tax money, like that will fix what is broken. Unbeknownst to these broken families they are but pawns to their congressional power brokers that use the rest of us through class warfare and a broken tax structure to keep them underfoot for the betterment of their selfish congressional lives.

    Report Post » I_will_say_this_one_more_time  
  • fortruss
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 7:43am

    Washington, listen up.

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 5:58am

    I guess that didn’t happen in chicago or detroit or Washington, D.C. did it? NOPE. But, almost anywhere else in AMERICA, it can happen, esp. with Tea Party members. Most members of Congress? Not so much.
    Current administration? hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

    JESUS, good morning. Thank YOU for this day that YOU have made just for us. We WILL rejoice and be happy in it! LORD, would YOU please uncover allllllllllllllll of georgesoros’ money and the sources of it for us? It would be good for the world to see hell exposed. Might get some of the “walking the fine line between heaven and hell” bunch’s attention. Thank YOU, LORD, for continuing to uncover and to bring to YOUR light the evil trying to hide in our world. We’re almost overwhelmed with the amount of darkness. Because of YOU in our lives, we are not. GOD BLESS AMERICA, ISRAEL and JAPAN! In JESUS’ name, amen.

    Report Post »  
    • Jack of Hearts
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 11:37am

      I see the drugs haven’t worn off yet Grandma. PS The Japanese aren’t “Christians” – hence their higher morals.

      Report Post » Jack of Hearts  
    • Kalshion
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 2:08pm

      @Jack of Hearts, sickening how you have to inject religious bias into something like this. Hint: any person can have moral high ground, just because they part of a religion, doesn’t mean they lack morals. Also, Japan does have christian groups in it who have been helping out quite a bit.

      What you clearly don’t get, is that the Japanese people IN GENERAL, doesn’t matter what religion, have higher morals because they are a united people. I’m certain if this quake happened here in the US, you’d see all sorts of people – doesn’t matter what religion – looting stores and taking the money from others.

      Being Christian doesn’t have anything to do with having high or low morals, it’s just a religion you choose to practice. Having morals is something YOU DECIDE not some damned religion. If I were you, I’d shove that religious bias to the back of brain, because I know of several Japanese in Japan, who are Christian by the way, who’d take REAL offense to what you just said.

      Report Post »  
    • SovereignSoul
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:48pm

      @Kalshion. Most of the “REAL” christians who post here would vehemently disagree with you…and then call you a vulgar name or question your intelligence.

      Report Post » SovereignSoul  
  • ZABO
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 5:52am

    those idiots on current t.v. had the nerve to call the fine people of japan racist because they did-not want any foreigner’s to move to japan. i bet those swine muslims would of tried to make bombs out of all them safes. after they stole what was in them. and watch for blackie to take a ship over ther when they get done lootin in the u.s.a.

    Report Post »  
  • iwalkalone
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 5:51am

    Author illustrates our problem,,“high level of ethical awareness”. Like its a foreign and bizarre notion from the ancient past.

    Report Post »  
  • brian8793
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 4:28am

    Dang, I can’t believe my ancestors put these fine people in concentration camps.

    I appreciate that we were able to have an all Japanese Brigade in WW2. It just so happens to be the most decorated brigade in U.S. history.

    The Japanese and Korean people are amazing!

    Report Post » brian8793  
    • Mapache
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 5:46am

      Before you get all gooey, some of “these fine people” in Japan brutally invaded China and conducted live experiments on live subjects including US POWs during the war.
      I applaud the Japanese response to the present crisis and disasters that hit their country but it does not justify rewriting history. While the internment of Japanese citizens may not have been the best move in retrospect, the fact of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor is it any wonder that some thought that Japan might have a significant number of sleeper cells in the US?

      Report Post » Mapache  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 4:25am

    I am so proud of the one or all that returned this and any property that does not belong to them. Honesty is the best policy and it is to bad that all of our politicians aren’t that ethical. God will bless the good not the evil.

    Report Post »  
  • Chuck Stein
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 3:50am

    Is “ethical awareness” the new word for “honesty”? What is wrong with the old word?

    Report Post »  
    • ZaphodsPlanet
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 4:13am

      Chuck…. English is probably a second language for the guy who used the term. Don‘t get caught up with a detail that’s frivolous. It’s not important. What’s important is how many of them are “Honest”. Makes me want to do business with someone in Japan however anyone in the UK, no thanks…unless you’re soccer thug in the EDL and not into destroying property where you might have been able to get a stinking job. Wouldn’t you agree?

      Report Post » ZaphodsPlanet  
  • BarbWire
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 3:37am

    The biggest thing I learn about this news story is that the Japanese people saved a lot of cash in their homes. They saved. How many Americans spend less than they earn and save it up? Most Americans spend more than they earn and borrow. This is mostly a thrift story. But it is also a story of honor and integrity.

    Report Post »  
  • Lux
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 3:03am

    The Japanese have always been an honor bound people. There is much we can learn as a nation from their great example. I received a great email titled 65 years after the A-bomb. It shows pictures of the devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the A-bomb was dropped. Then shows pictures of the thriving metropolitan cities they have become within the last 65 years. Then it shows pictures of Detroit 65 years after the A-bomb was dropped on Japan. It shows visuals of abandon buildings, half burnt homes, trashy streets, etc. Then following the pictures it states this:

    “What has caused more long term destruction –

    the A-bomb,

    or

    U. S. Government welfare programs created to buy the

    votes of those who want someone to take care of them?

    Japan does not have a welfare system.

    Work for it or do without.”

    So true…

    With this message pictures the pictures really say it all. If anyone would like me to forward them the entire email feel free to email me at lux4veritas@hotmail.com and type 65 years for the subject.

    Report Post » Lux  
    • GBMBulletsSKNRD
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 3:26am

      I got those same pictures some 6-8 months ago. I sent them to Glenn Beck so he could share them. It took him about a week to show them on his Fox TV Program. Not bad concidering all the emails he gets.

      Report Post »  
    • Nick84
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 3:31am

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_welfare_in_Japan

      Report Post »  
    • OhioRifleman
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 5:16am

      @ Nick84

      Two things to keep in mind:

      1. Wikipedia is not always considered a legit source, given that anyone can edit it. If that is your primary source, consider your argument on shaky grounds until you can find backup or a different primary.

      2. The ‘social’ programs as listed are as much private contribution as they are government. It is a societal thing among them, to take care of elder family properly. Gauging their system by the metric of European / US models is not quite accurate, as ours is neither balanced nor is it sacrosanct – the amount of SSI leeches we have is ample proof that our system is corrupted.

      Report Post » OhioRifleman  
    • Nick84
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 11:04am

      Maybe you will consider this a more “valid” source: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9MDE7D80&show_article=1.

      Also, it doesn‘t matter if it’s part private and part public. My response was to lux saying: “Japan does not have a welfare system.

      Work for it or do without.”

      Which is clearly a false statement.

      Report Post »  
    • Lux
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:39am

      Your right they do have a welfare program. I was merely quoting the email I received. But to clarify when I said “so true” that was in regards to the “work for it or do without” part. Not the statement that they do not have welfare. Also on a side note; their welfare system isn’t anything like our welfare system. There are many viable sources you can find via-google in regards to that. This one is from a NY Times article I remember reading back in 96. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/10/world/welfare-as-japan-knows-it-a-family-affair.html

      Report Post » Lux  
    • Lux
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:47am

      Your right they do have a welfare program. I was merely quoting the email I received. But to clarify when I said “so true” that was in regards to the “work for it or do without” part. Not the statement that they do not have welfare. Also on a side note; their welfare system isn’t anything like our welfare system. There are many viable sources you find via-google in regards to that. This one is from a NY Times article I remember reading back in 96. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/10/world/welfare-as-japan-knows-it-a-family-affair.html

      Report Post » Lux  
  • Hephzibah
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 2:09am

    I do admire this. My integrity and self-worth are more valuable to me than money.

    Report Post » Hephzibah  
  • zoro51
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 1:51am

    CAN CONGRESS do that?? HELL NO it takes HONOR to do this congress HAS NO HONOR

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 1:30am

    Japan Country where HONOR Still Prevails.
    HEY BO!!!! Can you teach your people HONOR???

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • Quagaar Warrior
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 1:03am

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    I’m a treasure hunter. Have been for 26 years. I won’t give away my treasure hunting locations but any and every time I have found any kind of treasure that is connected with a name, i.e. wallets, rings, etc. I go out of my way to find that person and return it intact. I once found an Eagle Scout ring with only 3 initials inside. After exhaustive research, which by-the-way was long before the ease of internet searching, I found the owner of the ring who had lost it a year previous. His mother was in tears when she found out that someone actually found it and was returning it to her son. Little did I know, her husband abandoned them when he was just a pup and she chose the Boy Scouts of America to be his surrogate father and teach him to be a true and Godly American. When he reached Eagle Scout, she bought him the ring even though she couldn’t afford it. It wasn’t even gold but it was the love and motherly pride that counted. That ring is priceless to them. She offered me a reward but NO WAY! What goes around, comes around! They say that every man has his price but my eternity with our Lord is priceless to me !!!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Report Post »  
    • pschlentz
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 1:07am

      You’re a good and Godly man Quagaar Warrior!
      Thanks for being a Great American and for the example you’ve set for others…

      Report Post »  
    • hj471230
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 6:07am

      Wow! Thats an incredible story! God always blesses those that do His will. God bless you, Quagaar Warrior!

      Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 1:02am

    Again, why I have the UTMOST respect for the Japanese, a truly wonderful culture based on respect… even my child says she likes Japan over China, that Japanese is a nicer place and nicer people…. for a 9 yo, that is pretty good.

    We could learn a LOT from the Japanese, we’ve lost our morals, ethics and honor.

    Ask you friends this question and see what kind of answer you get:

    Your walking behind a stranger, and their wallet falls and they don’t realize it, do you pick it up and yell to them to stop and hand them their wallet, or you do pick it up and walk the other way…

    See what kind of moral/ethical character yours friends have.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • SHOWMESTATEGUY
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:59am

    I can think of a few cities in America where that would not happen. I think it would happen in some areas of America, not the cities, the cities are too liberal to do a good deed. Dem controlled and all.

    Report Post »  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 1:30am

      @SHOWMESTATEGUY
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:59am
      I can think of a few cities in America where that would not happen. I think it would happen in some areas of America, not the cities, the cities are too liberal to do a good deed. Dem controlled and all.
      ***
      As a young mother who’s husband was struggling with long hours and lack of profits to make our small business work, (trucking, lone driver) I lived in small OH town and had 2 kids when I had to quit my job to care for them during a Chicken Pox outbreak. I cashed my last pay put the money to pay a utility due that day in a separate part of my purse (I thought) and went home to care for the kids and get them dosed up before running back up to make the payment. Alas! the money wasn’t in my purse, and searching my car, (3 of us did) turned up nothing, I took the money out of what I had left and rolled coins to finish making the payment. 2 weeks later, I had enough money for 10 pounds of potatoes, a loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter. I prayed it’d be enough and went off with my now healthy kids (appetites too) to the grocery store; as the carry-out lifted up the seat to put my food in back, he reached down and said, “Did you lose something? There between the seat back and cushion was my utility money in nice crisp from the bank bills. I thanked him and my Lord, and went back in to buy enough food till our business picked up! God, and his people will never fail you!

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:49am

    We need to hire some of these people to fix our national deficit.

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • woodyb
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:28am

    Hasn’t Odumbo claimed that it dropped from his pocket while on his apology tour????????

    Report Post »  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:18am

    I lost a wallet with $3000 in cash in it – and it was returned with all the cash.
    True Story

    (Oregon – in the suburbs)

    If i had lost it in the CITY – i would have never gotten anything back.

    Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
  • Kurty C Wipe
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:17am

    Ethics? Maybe this country could learn something. A Weiner would be a start!

    Report Post » Kurty C Wipe  
  • questioningwithboldness
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:12am

    This would NEVER HAPPEN IN AMERICA! Some may return them, but most of the give me mentality would keep it and never turn it in. No wonder Japan wants to keep their pure race. Congratulations Japan, You would probably win in the most honest citizens in the world. God help our country.

    Report Post »  
    • blue_sky
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:34am

      Do not you remember the news that many Japanese families did not report their parents death and collected pension money for decade. That is why Japanese life expectancy numbers were overblown. Thousands of dead people above 100 yo were counted as being alive. Admiration is good, but as with everything should be within logical limits.

      Report Post »  
  • Love glenn protect glenn
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:10am

    I love the Japanese people. Hosted many Japanese high school exchange students. Honest, caring, hard working……

    Report Post »  
    • blue_sky
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:14am

      I had one student too. Was always of high regard to Japanese culture. Then I learned that his father (a local school principal) changed his son grades upwards before sending to a US college. Most amazing was that such an “upgrade” was approved at the open school meeting. Well, people are just people, even in Far East.

      Report Post »  
  • blue_sky
    Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:09am

    In a more homogeneous world members fell more affinity and trust to their neighbor. Well, with our multi-cultural history, we simply do not have that option. But a few Americans demonstrated great deeds as well, worthy of reporting. If the rate of immigration was reasonable enough to adapt newcomers to American basic values, we would be fine too.

    Politicians both on the left and right serve their special interests. Even now, when US is totally broke, we keep our borders open, bring hundred of thousands Arab “refugees” to US, give visas to muslim students and …. still keep Green Card lottery running around the world. Are not we great or just foolish? Based on history sometimes it is the same.

    Report Post »  
    • chipmunk
      Posted on August 19, 2011 at 12:30am

      right now, unfortunately foolish. & it’s very worrisome.

      Report Post »  
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