Grief often leaves us with words we never had the chance to say.
In a quiet corner of Japan, on a windswept hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, there is a small white phone booth that has become one of the world’s most powerful symbols of connection, remembrance and healing. Inside sits an old rotary phone that is not connected to any wires, cables or “earthly system.” And yet, thousands of people travel there each year to make a call.
This is the story of The Wind Phone — Kaze no Denwa (風の電話).
What began as a personal ritual became a sanctuary for thousands.
The Wind Phone was created by Itaru Sasaki after the death of his cousin from cancer. Struggling with his loss, Itaru purchased an old-fashioned phone booth and placed it in his garden. Inside, he installed a disconnected rotary phone.
He would step inside the booth and “call” his cousin.
There was no expectation of an answer. Instead, the act of speaking out loud, of expressing love, regret, memories, and longing, brought him comfort. He felt that the wind carried his words to his cousin, offering a continued sense of connection in the midst of his grief.
He named the booth Kaze no Denwa: The Wind Phone.
In 2011, Japan experienced a devastating 9.1 magnitude earthquake that triggered a catastrophic tsunami. Thirty-foot waves obliterated entire coastal towns. Thousands of lives were lost, and many people were swept out to sea, their bodies never recovered.
The town of Ōtsuchi recorded one of the highest numbers of missing persons.
Communities were left not only with physical destruction but with an overwhelming, collective tsunami of grief.
Recognising the need for a place where people could process the unimaginable, Itaru salvaged his phone booth and relocated it to a windy hill at the foot of Kujira-Yama, overlooking the ocean beside Ōtsuchi. He opened the space to others, inviting mourners to visit and use the phone as he had.
The power of the Wind Phone is not in the phone itself, it is in what it represents
For many, the act of speaking aloud helps untangle thoughts and emotions that feel overwhelming inside. It allows grief to move, rather than remain stuck.
The Wind Phone reminds us that grief is not something to be silenced or hurried. It is something to be honoured.
We do not need technology, answers or solutions. Sometimes, what we need most is a place where we can speak freely, remember openly, and feel connected to those we love.
A place where the wind can carry our words.
The Wind Phone stands as a gentle, powerful message to anyone who is grieving:
You are allowed to speak.
You are allowed to remember.
You are allowed to keep loving.
This simple idea has inspired the creation of similar “Wind Phones” and reflective spaces in communities across the world, places designed to hold space for those navigating loss. You can check other locations here: https://www.mywindphone.com/windphonelocations
To learn more about the original Wind Phone and the story behind it, please click here: www.mywindphone.com
www.mywindphone.com website is a living connection to Amy’s youngest daughter, Emily, who passed away in April 2020. In Amy’s words “Every moment I spend creating it feels like a quiet conversation with her, our collaboration between heaven and earth, and it fills me with both purpose and joy.” To find out more about Amy and Emily’s story, please visit: https://www.mywindphone.com/our-story