1. The Japanese government received a record 129.1 billion yen from unclaimed assets of deceased individuals without heirs in fiscal 2024, equivalent to approximately 828 million US dollars.
2. This figure is significantly higher than the 33.6 billion yen (about 215 million USD) recorded in fiscal 2013, marking a 3.8-fold increase due to an increasing number of elderly individuals living alone, caused by a declining birthrate and aging society.
3. Lawyer Shuhei Yoshida suggests that the number of elderly individuals with no relatives is expected to continue rising. He proposes options such as donating assets to caregivers or charitable organizations, emphasizing the importance of making a will to ensure the distribution of properties after death.