Kanda River recovery: 161 mobile batteries found dumped in Tokyo

Authorities have recovered 161 mobile batteries from the bottom of the Kanda River in Nakano, Tokyo, following reports of mass illegal dumping. The recovery operation, conducted on August 21 by Nakano City officials and specialized contractors, revealed that the discarded items were largely from the same manufacturer.

Reports indicate the batteries appear to be from the rental service ChargeSpot, operated by INFORICH. Residents first noticed the light blue devices submerged in the riverbed approximately one week ago. Some of the recovered units were found to be discolored or heavily damaged.

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the incident for potential illegal dumping and property damage. INFORICH stated that each battery carries a management number that can be used to identify users through rental records. The company is cooperating with police to determine how the devices ended up in the river, noting that batteries are typically collected and disposed of by professional services every one to three years.