遺失物取扱所
ishitsubutsu toriatsukaijo
In Japanese, 'lost and found' is 遺失物取扱所 (ishitsubutsu toriatsukaijo). If unsure, use 遺失物取扱所. Wiktionary also lists 落とし物センター (otoshimono sentā).
Meaning: department, service or location where items that are found can be claimed by their owners (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 遺失物取扱所 | ishitsubutsu toriatsukaijo |
| 落とし物センター | otoshimono sentā |
This phrase refers to a department, service or location where items that have been found can be claimed by their owners.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 遺失物取扱所 breaks down into 遺失物 (lost property), 取扱 (handling/dealing) and 所 (place/office).
Which one should you use?
遺失物取扱所 is the formal, official term used by police stations, train stations and government offices. In contrast, 落とし物センター is another way to refer to a lost and found service.
How do you pronounce it?
ishitsubutsu toriatsukaijo
Did you know?
- In Japan, if you find a wallet or phone, it is customary to take it directly to a kōban, a small neighborhood police box, rather than leaving it where it was found.
- Items left in a 遺失物取扱所 for a certain period are often auctioned off by the government to raise public funds.
- The word 落とし物 comes from the verb 落とす, meaning 'to drop'. This highlights the Japanese perspective that an item is 'dropped' rather than 'lost'.
Examples in context
- 遺失物取扱所はどこでしょうか。Where is the lost and found?This sentence is useful for asking the location of the 遺失物取扱所.Tatoeba #190962 by bunbuku, translation #28122 by CK
- 一番近い遺失物取扱所はどこですか。Where is the nearest lost and found?Tatoeba #190110 by bunbuku, translation #27267 by CK
- 遺失物取扱所へ行ってください。Ishitsubutsu toriatsukaisho e itte kudasai.Please go to the lost and found.
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are at a train station.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔、財布をなくしたみたい。Hiroto, saifu o nakushita mitai.Hiroto, I think I lost my wallet.
- 大翔 Hirotoえっ、遺失物取扱所へ行こうか。E, ishitsubutsu toriatsukaijo e ikou ka.What? Shall we go to the lost and found?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、お願い。どこにあるかな。Un, onegai. Doko ni aru kana.Yes, please. I wonder where it is.
- 大翔 Hiroto駅員さんに聞いてみるよ。Ekiin-san ni kiite miru yo.I'll ask a station employee.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lost and found” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
