東淀川警察署

“Lost and found,” a child’s voice cries out near the Higashiyodogawa Police Station. That very phrase echoes the station’s history of both tragedy and triumph. The Higashiyodogawa Police Station, established in 1974, stands as a vigilant guardian over Osaka’s Higashiyodogawa Ward. Originally known as the Osaka City Abeno Police Station in 1947, its roots lie in the post-war reorganization of Japan’s police system. Over time, it transitioned to Osaka Prefectural Abeno Police Station and finally, in 1974, adopted its current name, the Higashiyodogawa Police Station. The station oversees the entire ward, managing nine Koban, small neighborhood police boxes that provide a close connection to the community. This connection became tragically apparent in 2013. A distressed woman reported a suspected child abduction near Abeno Station. The Higashiyodogawa Police Station officers, acting independently, deemed the abduction unlikely. They questioned the child’s mother, ultimately sharing the reporter’s personal information, an act that later led to disciplinary action against the officers. In the same year, a grim discovery shook the community: a mummified body found in an apartment. The Higashiyodogawa Police Station and the management company had performed a welfare check a month prior, but failed to thoroughly inspect the apartment. This tragic event highlighted the fine line between life and death in a densely populated city. In a more positive light, the Higashiyodogawa Police Station also experienced a case of lost and found in 2014. An officer misplaced crucial investigation documents related to a murder case. These documents, containing sensitive personal information, were later found in a ramen shop, and a suspect was arrested for theft. The Higashiyodogawa Police Station is more than just a building; it is a living testament to the ongoing narrative of Osaka. It represents the triumphs and failures, the losses and recoveries of a vibrant community under its watch.