Japanese tsunami victims reunited with their cash and valuables

[Bonobo]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/18/japan-tsunami-victims-reunited-cash?CMP=twt_gu

After the waves tore into their homes and sent them fleeing for their lives, many of the survivors of Japan's tsunami must have thought they had lost everything.

Of the 2.36bn yen retrieved from 5,700 safes, all found in the three worst affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, 96% had been returned to its owners by mid-July, according to the national police agency. In addition, 1.3bn yen in loose cash has been recovered from handbags and purses, along with credit cards. Police said about 85% had been returned to its rightful owners, adding that the hunt would continue until all of the money had been accounted for.

While most of the private and company safes were found by police and troops searching for survivors, others were handed in by members of the public. About 900 safes – which are common in Japanese households, offices and workshops – were returned in the city of Kamaishi alone. One, retrieved from Ishinomaki, contained 100m yen and has been given to its owner.

Police have attributed the unusually large number of safes to a preference for cash transactions among fishermen, who make up a large portion of the population affected by the disaster. Many safes also contained the documents that businesses will need to rebuild: bank books, stock certificates, land rights deeds, and gold bars and other precious metals.

[Booster]

1. I'd like to think that would happen in this country, but I'm not so

sure. If the people didn't take it the authorities probably would. The Japanese are honorable people for sure.

[malaise]

2. That wasn't happening here

believe me.