The Original Wind Phone
"This is why it doesn't work to just install a phone box anywhere in the world and call it a Wind Phone. There are certain conditions that are necessary for it to work, and these have to be created."
-Itaru Sasaki
“Because my thoughts could not be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind.”
-Itaru Sasaki
Wind Phone in Japan
After the devastating tsunami in 2011, Itaru Sasaki moved his small white phone booth to a windy hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean near the town of Otsuchi. There, he began welcoming others who wished to “call” loved ones lost in the disaster. Speaking into the disconnected phone allowed visitors to share the words left in their hearts, trusting the wind to carry their messages.
Over time, the Phone of the Wind became a powerful place of remembrance and healing. People travel from around the world to sit quietly in the booth, speak to those they miss, and feel a sense of connection beyond loss. This simple yet profound idea has inspired the creation of wind phones in communities across the globe, offering sacred spaces where grief and love can coexist.
Today, the Wind Phone in the Garden of Bell Gardia is lovingly cared for by Itaru Sasaki and his wife. The site is supported by a charitable foundation that helps preserve this special place. For information about supporting the garden and its mission, please visit their official website. At the Wind Phone, the line may be disconnected, but the connection of love never is.
In the News
This is a very small sampling of articles written about the Original Wind Phone. If you read an article that you think would be a nice addition to this list, please forward the link.
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Japan's tsunami survivors call lost loves on the phone of the wind
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How Japan’s Wind Phone Became a Bridge Between Life and Death
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Japan's tsunami survivors call lost loves on the phone of the wind | Reuters
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The Phone of the Wind - The Lonely Phone on a Hill Top in Japan to Call your Loved Ones
