Yes, they can keep it if it’s not claimed but it’s still amazing to see so much being handed over to authorities. You probably wouldn’t see this much turned over in many other countries. MSNBC:

Tens of millions of yen has been turned in to authorities by rescue workers and citizens who found the cash in the rubble of disaster-hit areas, the Kyodo news agency reported Sunday, citing police.

Police told Kyodo that citizens were turning in cash and valuables every day and that there was little hope in most cases of finding the original owners if the items were found without identification. Under Japanese law, the finders would be able to keep the money if the owners did not claim it within three months.

Police in the Miyagi prefecture told Kyodo that money has been returned in less than 10 percent of cases.