How many Japanese passerby return the lost wallet to its owner?
We’ve seen examples time and time again of how honest the people of Japan are. In many countries where leaving your property alone in plain sight for five seconds means it’s basically already gone, it can be a little hard to believe.
So to test out just how honest the Japanese people really are, Japanese YouTuber Zenim at the channel Monkey Python decided to carry out a little social experiment.
He walked around the Harajuku area and intentionally dropped his wallet immediately after passing by some people. He then kept walking and waited to see if anyone returned the wallet, of if they kept the leather treasure for themselves.
How many of the 15 tests ended in honesty? Watch the video below to find out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t56YVMBDISk
▼ Living in the U.S., I can personally attest that I have had $0 returned to me that I’ve lost over the years, so these are some heartwarming statistics.
▼ But are they true? YouTuber Zenim and his wallet are about to find out.
▼ The first drop. Down goes the wallet inconspicuously out the back pocket.
▼ We’ve got a spotter! Will they return it, or pocket the pocketbook?
▼ And they return it! Score one for the green, “honest monkeys”.
▼ The next dropped wallet gets spotted instantly. Is that woman excited to return it, or to get some free easy cash?
▼ Honesty wins out again. Go, green team!
▼ And the wallet keeps getting returned again…
▼ …and again…
▼ …and again, all the way to the end.
That’s 15 out of 15 returned for a final score of…
▼ One hundred-percent! If there are any doubters out there, it’s hard to argue with a one hundred-percent return rate.
Of course, to be fair, the experiment isn’t perfect. Zenim did drop the wallet in a very public place, so chances are there were others besides the person who returned it who saw him drop it. That makes it harder to stuff the wallet in your own pocket knowing that there might be judging eyes out there watching what you do.
It would be interesting to run a similar experiment in a more private setting where there would be no such public consequences and see if the results were the same. Either that, or, we can stop testing the Japanese people’s honesty and just appreciate them for being awesome. That works too!
What would you do in the same situation? Would you return the wallet, or grab it and run in the opposite direction? And, to add another layer to the question, would it make a difference if you found the wallet in Japan or your home country? Let us know!
Source: YouTube/Monkey Python via grapee
Images: YouTube/Monkey Python
Saudi Arabian TV tempts would-be thieves in Tokyo to test Japan’s honesty
Video of kids reacting to strangers dropping their wallets might restore your faith in humanity
Japanese woman finds wallet with 1 million yen, does the right thing, then something even better
“Otaku” YouTuber confronts Tokyo tough-guy litterers, who’ve got no idea who they’re dealing with
Japanese YouTuber goes to Argentinian slum to make “impactful video”, gets robbed instead
7-Eleven Japan sells freshly baked pizzas…but are they any good?
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Meet Aloma: the Japanese male idol group cheering on moms through the trials of child-rearing
Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Camera crew visits the abandoned town that inspired Japanese survival horror game “Siren”【Video】
New rules allow Japanese adult film actresses to stop the sale of their videos after five years
First-ever Cardcaptor Sakura Cafe coming to Tokyo next month
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best Turkish rice restaurant in Nagasaki!
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Japanese women sound off on their minimum height requirements for a husband【Survey】
Huge Evangelion Unit-01 head appearing in lights in Japan to celebrate anime’s 30th anniversary
Kyoto planning surprise late-night inspections of Airbnb-style rentals to fight overtourism
Family Mart releases huge range of cute sweets for Cat Day in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Disgraced YouTuber Hezumaryu to run in next Japanese national election
Food ASMR YouTuber caught spitting cheese tonkatsu out on camera【Video】
Are these normal Japanese things weird to you? 10 things that might surprise you when you visit Japan
Six types of Japanese people you’ll meet while living in Japan — An illustrated guide
Leave a Reply