An anonymous person has willed roughly ¥40 million in savings and about ¥17 million in property to Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures on the condition the funds be used to support those orphaned by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
According to three prefectural governments, this is not the first time a deceased person has used a will to leave money for the orphans, but it is the first time that a piece of land has been donated.
The prefectures plan to sell the land under open tender and divide the funds equally to help the children, officials said.
The officials said the prefectures all received the donation proposal at the same time in October 2014 from the executor of the will. The estate is a 63.22-sq.-meter plot in Osaka's Miyakojima Ward. The minimum bid for the June 6 auction will be set at ¥16.94 million. The prefectures plan to finish dividing the funds from the land sale next spring.
The Fukushima Prefectural Government measured the property and demarcated the boundary lines, while the Miyagi Prefectural Government dismantled the house that was sitting on it. The Iwate Prefectural Government has taken charge of sale procedures, including land valuation.
Those who wish to participate in the bid are requested to submit an application to the Iwate Prefectural Government by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The prefectures have already received ¥10 million each from the savings. The remaining ¥10 million will be divided among them after expenses for the property sale are deducted, the officials said.