FILL: Random acts of kindness?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Originally posted 11 July 2007

The early morning news show here in Japan had a section on the summer mystery. Apparently some one has been leaving 10,000 yen notes around. Not loose, exactly. Instead, they're in a nice envelope, addressed something like "to someone who needs it" (I wasn't really paying close attention, so that translation may be pretty garbled), and with a note inside along with one 10,000 yen bill. That's about $100, not big money, but a nice surprise.

The note says something like "I am independently wealthy. Please use this money for personal improvement."

Apparently about 360 of these giveaways have been reported. All across Japan, including Okinawa. The handwritten notes have been compared, and a handwriting expert says they are not all written by the same person. So there may be more than one person involved in this.

I find it somewhat surprising that about 360 people reported this. I wonder how many simply pocketed the money?

These presents are being found in public restrooms for men, often in courthouses and other public buildings.

It's an interesting mystery. Why is someone giving away money? How can we encourage more people to join in? I think we need copycat do-gooders just as much as copycat criminals :-)

What would you do with a hundred dollars?

(obligatory writing comment: just imagine three different characters finding such envelopes in the bathroom. What do they do with it? How does their handling of the unexpected provide us with the insights into their character?)