Lost Property Office Becomes Suitcase Percussion Orchestra: The 'Clank-Clank Concerto' Echoing from City Hall Basement

A city hall basement lost property office has transformed unclaimed suitcases into percussion instruments for impromptu concerts. Participating staff members laugh, 'It's great stress relief - we can drum during work hours.'

2025-07-09

Translations: JA

Culture Kaleidoscope

Strange explosive sounds of “CLANK,” “BOOF,” and “PSHH” emanating from the city hall basement prompted residents to nearly call emergency services—until they discovered it was actually a percussion ensemble performed on expired suitcases. Staff members proudly declare, “It resonates better than the end-of-work bell,” as the building transforms into the headquarters of the “Lost Baggage Philharmonic.”

The lost property office handles hundreds of suitcases annually. With disposal costs mounting, a young music circle member on staff proposed the motto “depreciate through percussion.” After cutting out the bottoms and converting casters into tension rods, the low frequencies rival taiko drums while zipper sections ring out like hi-hats. The staff electronic bulletin board now features a new classification system: “Combustible, Non-combustible, Performable.”

During lunch breaks, the so-called “Lunchtime Crash” sessions take place. The audience consists of about a dozen citizens visiting city hall. Even those waiting for paperwork find the “timestamp length” masked by improvised rhythms. However, noise control measures are necessary, prompting the General Affairs Division to distribute free earplugs. The disaster prevention speakers announce, “Today’s seismic intensity: Snare +3,” brilliantly cross-wiring crisis management with culture.

The Tourism Division, catching wind of this trend, is planning “Industrial Bon Odori” tours. They plan to boast to international delegations that “Our nation has high not only recycling rates but also BPM.” Meanwhile, a local confectionery maker is developing rice crackers shaped like trunk dents. Each bite produces a sharp cracking sound, drawing jaw joints into the rhythm.

The Cultural Properties Protection Committee, however, warns it’s “flashier than Kamakura-period drums.” The chairman frowns at the damage to the “historical soundscape,” but performers counter that “drums from that era were also originally lost wood.” The Legal Affairs Division scrambles to draft unprecedented acoustic ordinances.

At a press conference, the mayor grandly declared this a “smart policy that simultaneously smashes waste problems, cultural promotion, and staff mental care.” Beside him, the Finance Division Chief’s fingers trembled in a snare roll as he muttered, “Next year’s budget will simultaneously tear apart too.” The reverb of immeasurable effectiveness continues to echo through the building today.

Stakeholder Comments

Young Staff Member: “The suitcase beat urges me home better than the overtime bell”
Suitcase (Est. 2009 Model): “After ten years of sleep, drumsticks actually hit the spot”
General Affairs Earplug Box: “Apparently, the more I’m distributed, the livelier the music gets”
Citizen Waiting at Tax Counter: “Feels like number tickets are being drummed in sequence”
Finance Division Chief: “Drums without skins sound as light as wallets”
Cultural Properties Protection Chairman: “Restore historical silence! I’d consider drums for moments of silence though”
Tourism Division Poster: “‘Unbeatable luggage is just junk’—Souvenirs are shock sounds”
Caster Manufacturer: “Never expected durability tests to become festivals”
Local Band Student: “Cheaper than live houses—it’s a free basement after all”
Zipper Association: “Born to close, becoming stars with opening sounds”

International Expressions

Haiku

Destination lost / Suitcase echoes resound / Through empty hallways
Luggage drums beating / City hall echoes summer / Afternoon rhythms
Lock sounds breaking through / The midday silence splits wide / Government seals float
Ownerless heartbeats / Public stamps rise and flutter / In basement depths
Caster tracks writing / Musical scores approaching / The rainy season
Zippers competing / With wind in improvised / Compositions free
Deep underground beats / Lost journey’s path resounding / In forgotten space
Under hot stage lights / Drumsticks bounce like summer bugs / Chirping their songs
Struck yet still travels / The shadow of the suitcase / On endless roads
Open house day comes / Between public duties bloom / Musical fireworks