Chief librarian Hiroshi Konno is seen holding a stocking in which a 100,000-yen donation was found at the Rifu Town Cultural Exchange Center "Rifunos" in the town of Rifu, Miyagi Prefecture, on Dec. 17, 2021. (Mainichi/Hana Fujita)

       RIFU, Miyagi -- This northeastern Japan town announced that an unknown sender had placed 100,000 yen (roughly $880) in a library drop box, surprising workers there with the "Christmas present" of goodwill.

       According to the Rifu Municipal Government, officials of a library at the Rifu Town Cultural Exchange Center "Rifunos" noticed that a red stocking measuring about 30 centimeters wide and 50 cm long had been placed in a slot for retuning books when they checked it at around 9 a.m. on Dec. 11, before opening hours. Inside was an envelope containing 100,000 yen in cash, accompanied by a letter stating, "This is a Christmas present. Please use it to purchase books." The name of the sender was not written on the letter.

       The library plans to purchase books with the money in consideration of the sender's wishes. Chief librarian Hiroshi Konno, 62, said, "I'm really grateful. I can't express my gratitude directly (to the sender), so I hope that I can convey my appreciation through news coverage."

       (Japanese original by Hana Fujita, Sendai Bureau)

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