News in Easy English: Kyoto police get too many lost things

In Kyoto, the police have received too many lost items. In 2025, they dealt with around 630,000 found-item cases, which was the second most since records began in 1971, with 2024 being the highest year. In spring, the police headquarters increased staff at police stations to help with the lost items. However, the task remains challenging.

Nakagyo Police Station keeps many items in a storage room, including smartphones and wallets, each tagged with the date of discovery and other details. One unusual item was a mannequin. In 2025, Nakagyo Police Station received around 64,000 lost items, the second highest in Kyoto Prefecture, following Shimogyo Police Station. The room lacks air conditioning, making it hot and humid in summer, which hinders sorting items.

Five workers in Nakagyo Police Station's accounting division handle lost property. Sometimes, additional workers are called from the prefectural police headquarters. The main challenge is returning lost items to their owners promptly and accurately. Natsumi Higashi, a 37-year-old worker, noted that ID papers and cards, including driver's licenses and credit cards, account for 48% of cases.

Wallets represent 10% of cases, followed by IC cards and other cards with monetary value, which make up 8%. Mobile phones are 7% of lost items, with wireless earbuds being the most commonly lost electronic device. Sometimes, people turn in only one earbud or an empty case.

Higashi highlighted that earbuds are particularly challenging due to their small size. They must be handled carefully to prevent loss. Power banks also require special care as they can cause fires. For smartphones, police workers may use SIM card information to call the mobile phone company. For driver's licenses, they send letters to the address on the license. The accounting division staff also assist people at service counters and manage stored items.