I recently discovered an interesting idea from Japan: A Wind Phone.

According to a blog written by Krissy Howard for allthatsinteresting.com (2017), Japanese resident Itaru Sasaki developed the concept because he wanted to have a way to connect to his deceased cousin.

Sasaki placed a disconnected rotary phone inside a glass booth overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Since 2011, it has welcomed over 10,000 visitors, both local and international. (Howard, 2017)

Heartbreak and grief in Otsuchi

Howard documents Otsuchi, Japan’s share of heartache. Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, more than 800 residents were killed and over 400 people were unaccounted for, not to mention the worldwide pandemic, many people in Otsuchi are grieving without the opportunity to say a proper goodbye. Consequently, Sasaki’s wind phone, or kaze no denwa, gives visitors a chance to say important things and trust the wind to deliver the message to their loved ones. Kaze no denwa is the idea of keeping up a relationship with the dead and isn’t such a strange idea in Japan. (Howard, 2017)

Importance of Grief Outlets

Howard explains that ‘studies show that having access to proper outlets for grief can not only speed up the grieving process, but also create space for acceptance’. And studies have been done with people to attempt to suppress their grief. The results of the studies showed that, ‘in order to heal, you have to let it out’. (Howard, 2017)

Important Conversations with the Dead

Communicating to your loved on from beyond the grave helps ‘let it out’. In fact, topics of conversation into the wind phones fall into 8 themes, according to a documentary produced by Japan’s national public broadcasting company, NHK, called, “Phone of the Wind: Whispers to Lost Families’:

1. Concerns: Are the loved ones eating, warm, etc?
2. Assurances: Don’t worry about me.
3. Questions: Why did you die? Why did it have to be you?
4. Spiritual Questions: Where are you now?
5. Simple Updates: about family members and activities
6. Crying
7. Regrets: I’m sorry for . . .
8. Requests for Encouragement: Please cheer for me . . .

“My Wind Phone”

A grieving mother, Amy Dawson, established an Instagram, Facebook and website for Wind Phones, www.mywindphone.com. On her website, she states, ‘since 2010’s first Wind Phone to present day, there are more than 100 Wind Phones in the world’. Her website shares photos of various wind phones, ways to find them, and other grief resources.

In fact, Dawson’s website links to two books written about wind phones:

 

The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden, by Heather Smith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The phone booth at the edge of the world, by Laura Imai Messina

Putting important thoughts into words

Evidently, there is interest for grieving people to say important things out loud to their deceased loved ones and a trust that the wind will deliver these heartfelt messages. This is one great way to process grief, to help it from getting stuck. Who knows if our loved ones will ever hear these words? At least it helps us to know we’ve said them, privately, or into a disconnected rotary phone.

Would you?

Do you think you would ever set up a wind phone to help give words to your grief? If so, what would you say? and Who would you say it to?

If you’ll excuse me now, I need to make an important call.

 

References:

1. Howard, Krissy. “Dealing with Grief: Japanese Phone Booth Connects the Living and the Dead.” https://allthatsinteresting.com/phone-of-the-wind. February 11, 2017
2. “Phone of the Wind: Whispers to Lost Families” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oixfdDLZQv8
3. Dawson, Amy. https://www.mywindphone.com/
4. com: The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World: A Novel: 9781419754319: Imai Messina, Laura: Books
5. The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden: Smith, Heather, Wada, Rachel: 9781459821033: Amazon.com: Books