WAITER-U RADIO #21 "The Excellence of Japan's Lost and Found System"

Updated on
WAITER-U RADIO#21「日本の遺失物システムの素晴らしさ」

Japan's amazing lost and found system! How my lost wireless earphones made it back to me from the airport.

Hello everyone, this is Tsukuwi from WAITER-U. Today, I'd like to share a uniquely Japanese experience: getting back something you've lost.

I run a camping-themed cafe in Shimokitazawa. I regularly travel abroad for business, whether it's for camping trips or to factories overseas where we manufacture products like bags and containers.

The Excellence of Japan's Lost and Found System

While there might be other countries where lost items are returned, it's no exaggeration to say that Japan offers the most reliable system. This recent experience truly reaffirmed the excellence of Japan's lost and found system.

My Airport Security Blunder

Recently, I was traveling internationally for a business trip to a factory overseas. Japanese airports have advanced considerably; previously, I had to take out every battery-powered device (laptops, iPads, mobile phones, etc.) from my backpack and place them individually in trays. Now, I can scan them while they're still in my bag.

I had grown accustomed to this convenience and let my guard down, assuming the process was simply to put my bag through and be done with it. However, as I approached the metal detector with my wireless earphones still in my pocket, I quickly took them out and placed them on a tray.

I passed through security without an issue, grabbed only my bag, and boarded my international flight. It wasn't until I tried to use my wireless earphones on the plane that I realized I'd lost them. I couldn't use them at the exact moment I needed them most, leading to several hours of an ineffable feeling.

The Search After Returning Home

After finishing my business abroad and returning to Japan, for about a week I wondered, "Did I leave them at home?" or "Were they in the taxi I took to the airport?" My search started at home, then I called taxi companies, but I couldn't find them.

Finally, I started to suspect the airport.

Haneda Airport's Chatbot System

Haneda Airport's lost and found service is highly advanced, now entirely handled by a chatbot. If you call, you'll be instructed to "please use the chat system."

The chat system asks for the product number and serial number of the lost item. Fortunately, I had kept the box for my wireless earphones and was able to check the serial number printed on it. Most modern electronics have serial numbers, and for wireless earphones, it's often printed on the back of the charging case.

After entering the required information into the chat and submitting it, I received a response: "It's possible it has been turned over to the police, so please contact them."

The Lost and Found Reporting System