Beyond-kind lost and found corner still hopes it can find original owner.
Yamagata Prefecture’s Chido Museum, located in the town of Tsuruoka, is a pretty unique place, consisting of a collection of samurai homes and some of Japan’s oldest still-standing Meiji Period Western-style buildings. However, like any museum, it also has a lost and found desk, and the museum recently shared a photo of a stuffed animal that a guest accidentally left behind.
The stuffed animal, which appears to be Donald Duck, was found in the museum’s parking lot, so it was probably dropped by a child before their vacationing family got back on the road and headed out of town. The museum hopes the owner will come back for it, and so it’s been hanging onto the stuffed duck…for 30 years.
今日は30年前の
— 致道博物館 (@chido1950) December 7, 2018
お客様の忘れ物をご紹介します
博物館駐車場に落ちていた
あひる、、(笑)
お洋服を編んであげたり
お風呂に入れてあげたり
去年
30年ぶりに服を編んであげて
すっかりドナルドダックらしくなりましたよ
30年経ったいまも
大事にお預かりしています😊 pic.twitter.com/iA6YWjLRld
The employee in charge of Chido Museum’s official Twitter account was working at the facility when Donald was originally found, but left the job about 10 years later. However, five years ago he started working at the museum again, and noticed that even after all this time, no one had been able to bring themselves to get rid of it.
Of course, 30 years is a lot of time to accumulate dust and dirt, so the staff recently decided to give Donald a bath, and they’ve even knitted him a new set of clothes.
“It’s been 30 years, but we’re still taking good care of him,” the account tweeted, prompting reactions such as:
“You guys are so sweet to give him a bath!”
“What a heartwarming story. It’s not even my stuffed animal, but I feel so warm and fuzzy that I have to say thank you too.”
“Donald looks so happy.”
“I want to buy a Daisy stuffed animal and have her sit next to him.”
As sweet as that last idea is, though, the museum’s goal is still to one day reunite the stuffed animal with its original owner. Of course, with the toy having been lost 30 years ago, the child who dropped Donald likely became an adult before the rise of social media, and may or may not have a Twitter account with which to see the photos of their long-lost cuddly friend.
Still, the museum hopes that all the exposure its tweet has been getting will help word eventually spread to Donald’s rightful owner. In the meantime, though, the stuffed animal rotates between different desks in the office, keeping various employees company during their shifts, and should the owner never be found, it looks like the Chido Museum is more than happy to let Donald stay with them permanently if need be.
Related: Chido Museum webite
Source: Twitter/@chido1950 via IT Media

Japanese museum that’s kept child’s lost stuffed animal for 30 years gets adorable new resident
Buddhist monks in Japan preparing to hold funeral service for thousands of stuffed animals, dolls
Ghibli Museum releases beautiful new line of anime art T-shirts, available for online orders【Pics】
Shinto shrine gate parfaits that tell your fortune now being served in Tokyo
New Transforming Business Card case brings anime mecha to Japanese work meetings
New Japanese ice cream is Ballin, in more ways than one
Mister Donut releases new sweet potato doughnuts in Japan, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst
Studio Ghibli adds new finger puppets to its anime merchandise collection in Japan
Uniqlo’s sister brand will be waiting with Pokémon sweaters and parkas this fall [Pics]
Go to hell! …at a limited time historical art exhibit coming to Osaka
Lego PlayStation recreates Sony’s original console, makes unusual choice for games to salute
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
New Pokémon anniversary song is 22 minutes long, features all 1,025 Pokémon species [Video]
A real-world Pokémon Poké Ball hotel is opening in Japan at a still-secret location [Video]
Japan’s first fall color forecast for 2026 is here!
Tamagotchi evolves into a ring for its 30th anniversary, preorders now open
Starbucks Japan reveals new Tsukimi Moon-Viewing drinkware and gifts for autumn 2026
Family Mart releases Famima convenience store products nationwide, but which ones are worth buying?
One Piece Day 2026 brings new art, music, and new cast announcements
New Japanese convenience store rice balls taste like instant noodles [Taste test]
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】