About
Perched atop a serene hill in Ōtsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, a solitary white telephone booth stands against the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. This unassuming structure, known as the "Wind Phone," offers a sanctuary for those seeking to connect with loved ones who have departed from this world.
The Wind Phone was conceived by garden designer Itaru Sasaki in 2010, following the loss of his cousin to cancer. Desiring a space to privately express his grief and maintain a connection with his cousin, Sasaki installed an old-fashioned rotary phone within a glass-paneled booth in his garden. This phone, disconnected from any network, was intended as a conduit for thoughts and feelings to be carried away by the wind. (asahi.com)
In March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the region, claiming thousands of lives, including over 1,200 residents of Ōtsuchi Town. Recognizing the profound grief engulfing his community, Sasaki opened the Wind Phone to the public, providing a space where survivors could voice their sorrow and communicate with those they had lost. (asahi.com)
Visitors approach the booth, often pausing to take in the panoramic view of the ocean—a reminder of both the beauty and the destructive power of nature. Inside the booth, the black rotary phone rests silently, inviting individuals to lift the receiver and speak their hearts into the void. Many find solace in this act, imagining their words being carried by the wind to the spirits of their loved ones.
Over the years, the Wind Phone has drawn tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, each bringing their own stories of loss and longing. The site has inspired literature and film, including the 2020 movie "The Phone of the Wind," which portrays a young woman's journey to find closure after the tsunami. (flag.style)
The Wind Phone stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the universal need for connection, even beyond death. It embodies the belief that, through the simple act of speaking into the wind, one can find healing and maintain a bond with those who have passed.