{
  "id": 17369204,
  "title": "Japan's 'phone booth to the dead' lets people talk to lost loved ones",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/japans-phone-booth-to-the-dead-lets-people-talk-to-lost-loved-ones",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-31T08:34:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/soul-search/japans-phone-booth-to-the-dead-the-mysterious-telephone-booth-where-people-go-to-talk-to-their-loved-ones-who-have-passed-away/articleshow/135387874.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A simple white telephone booth in a garden in Otsuchi, Japan, has become a place of solace for those mourning the loss of loved ones. Known as the Wind Phone or Kaze no Denwa, the booth is located in a coastal town that was severely impacted by the 2011 tsunami. The booth, created by garden designer Itaru Sasaki, holds no actual telephone connection and cannot deliver messages to the intended recipients. Nevertheless, thousands of people from Japan and around the world visit the Wind Phone to talk to deceased loved ones, share memories, and express their grief. The experience is simple: visitors enter the booth, pick up an old rotary telephone receiver, and dial the number of the person they wish to speak to. There are no instructions or expectations for the conversation, as the booth is a space for personal expression and emotional connection. The Wind Phone has transcended its original purpose and become a global phenomenon, inspiring similar installations in other countries. The concept resonates with those who experience grief, as it provides a physical space for maintaining an emotional connection with someone who has died, acknowledging that remembering and speaking to the departed can be an essential part of coping with loss.",
  "summary": "In the heart of Otsuchi, Japan, the Wind Phone stands as a poignant tribute to those who have lost loved ones. Established by Itaru Sasaki after the loss of his cousin, this unique telephone booth offers a space to share unspoken thoughts. Following the devastation of the 2011 tsunami, it has become a refuge for many grieving souls, fostering emotional connections and inspiring similar creations…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Wind Phone\" in Otsuchi, Japan, helps mourners connect with deceased loved ones",
    "Booth holds no actual telephone connection, only a space for personal expression",
    "Concept inspired similar installations worldwide, providing solace for grief"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Wind Phone provides a physical space for mourning that validates the necessity of maintaining emotional connections with the deceased as a vital component of the grieving process.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}