What the World Can Learn From Japan's Lost and Found

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1. 01What the World Can Learn From Japan's Lost and Found

   Good evening, everyone. Last spring, a tourist friend of mine dropped her wallet on a Tokyo train. The next day, the police called her. Everything was still inside. Tonight, I'd like to recommend something the world could learn from Japan: its lost-and-found system.

   大家晚安。去年春天，我一個來旅遊的朋友在東京的電車上弄丟了錢包。第二天，警察就給她打了電話。裡面的東西一樣不少。今晚，我想推薦一樣世界可以向日本學習的東西：它的失物招領制度。

2. 02The Numbers From Tokyo

   My friend was not just lucky. In 2023, people in Tokyo handed in about four point four billion yen in lost cash to the police, a record. About three point two billion yen of the cash handled that year went back to its owners.

   我的朋友並不只是運氣好。2023年，東京的人們向警方上交了大約四十四億日元的遺失現金，創下了紀錄。當年處理的現金中，大約有三十二億日元回到了失主手中。

   Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department lost-and-found data for 2023, reported by Nippon.com, "Record ¥4.4 Billion in Lost Cash Handed in to Tokyo Police in 2023"

3. 03Not Only Cash

   And it's not only money. About four point four million lost items were handed in to Tokyo police in 2023, from umbrellas to ID cards.

   而且不只是錢。2023年，東京警方共收到大約四百四十萬件遺失物品，從雨傘到身份證件都有。

   Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department lost-and-found data for 2023, reported by Nippon.com

4. 04Why It Works: The System

   Why does it work so well? Part of the answer is the system. There are small police boxes, called koban, in many neighborhoods, and the process is clear. Under Japan's Lost Property Act, finders can also receive a reward of five to twenty percent of the item's value.

   為什麼這套制度運作得這麼好？一部分原因在於制度本身。很多社羣都有叫作「交番」的小型派出所，而且流程很清楚。根據日本的《遺失物法》，拾得者還可以獲得物品價值百分之五到百分之二十的酬謝。

   Source: National Police Agency of Japan, lost property information site; Lost Property Act (finder's reward of 5–20%)

5. 05Why It Works: The Habit

   The other part is habit. Many Japanese children learn from a young age to take things they find to a koban. It becomes something people do without thinking twice.

   另一部分原因是習慣。很多日本孩子從小就學會把撿到的東西送到交番。這成了人們不假思索就會去做的事情。

6. 06Being Honest About the Numbers

   Of course, we should be careful. Not all cash is returned, and these numbers are from one city. They don't prove that people in Japan are more honest than people elsewhere. But they do show that a good system makes honesty easier.

   當然，我們也要謹慎。並不是所有現金都被交還了，而且這些數字只來自一個城市。它們並不能證明日本人比其他地方的人更誠實。但它們確實表明，一個好的制度能讓誠實變得更容易。

7. 07What Other Cities Could Copy

   Other cities don't need to copy everything. They could start with easy places to hand in lost items, a simple online search for owners, and lessons for children about returning what they find.

   其他城市不需要照搬一切。它們可以先從這些做起：設定方便上交失物的地點，提供簡單的網路上失物查詢，以及教孩子們把撿到的東西還回去。

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, Japan's lost and found isn't magic. It's a mix of good design and good habits, and both can be learned. Imagine if every lost wallet in the world had the same chance of coming home. Thank you.

   最後，日本的失物招領並不是魔法。它是好的設計和好的習慣的結合，而這兩樣都是可以學會的。想象一下，如果世界上每一個丟失的錢包都有同樣的機會回到主人手中，那該多好。謝謝大家。