Train companies and other organizations in Japan are starting to use AI to manage lost-and-found items more efficiently. One such system, called "Lost & Found Cloud find", helps staff quickly register lost items using a tablet. For example, at Keio Electric Railway, staff take pictures of a lost item like an umbrella, and AI automatically identifies its features (like color, shape, handle type). This data is then saved in a database.
People can also use LINE, a messaging app, to report lost items by sending photos and details. Even if users don’t describe the item perfectly, the AI can suggest likely matches. If a match is found, users can pick it up at a station.
Since Keio introduced the system in 2023:
- The return rate of lost items increased from 10% to over 30%.
- The time to register one item dropped from 8 minutes to 2 minutes.
- Phone inquiries decreased, saving staff time.
Other train companies like Keikyu Railway and JR Hokkaido have also started using the system, and JR East will begin in April 2026. Keikyu says phone inquiries dropped by about 30%.
The system is spreading beyond trains:
- Kinki University uses it at its Osaka campus, where about 1,000 items are lost each month.
- Haneda Airport supports the system in 4 languages for international travelers.
- Over 35 companies, including department stores, have adopted the system.
The company behind the system wants to create a nationwide network where people can search lost items across different industries and places.
Meanwhile, Japan’s National Police Agency is also improving its lost item system. As of June 2025, 30 prefectural police forces have unified their data into a national system. People in those areas can now:
- File a lost item report online
- Search for found items online without visiting a police station
The goal is to include major forces like the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and Hokkaido Police by the end of fiscal 2026, making lost item handling nationwide and fully digital.
by MagazineKey4532