The Wind Phone, located on a hill in Namiita, Otsuchi Town, was established in December 2010. It was originally created out of personal grief following the death of my cousin.<\/p>\n
The following year, the Great East Japan Earthquake claimed many precious lives, leaving behind bereaved family members many times greater in number, each carrying grief and enduring deep sorrow. Seeing the situation before my eyes, I felt that, as one of those who had survived, there was something I could do. I planted trees and flowers in the area where the Wind Phone had been installed, placed potted plants there, and laid stone slabs along the path, opening the space as an earthquake memorial garden that anyone could use at any time, free of charge.<\/p>\n
Over time, it came to be regarded as a symbolic presence for people facing the grief of bereaved families and many others. The historical background of the Great East Japan Earthquake\u2014the collective sorrow of that time and the need for healing\u2014had a strong influence. The Wind Phone can therefore be said to have evolved from a personal memorial device into a social symbol of grief care born in the wake of the disaster.<\/p>\n
Today, people visit not only from within Japan but also from many countries around the world, seeking the original Wind Phone. At present, more than 600 Wind Phones have been installed worldwide. Considering the current global situation, it is likely that uncertainty will continue for some time. In addition, the sorrow of losing a loved one is a deeply human emotion that remains unchanged in every era and in every country. For these reasons, I believe the number of Wind Phones will continue to increase.<\/p>\n
As the Association for Preserving the Wind Phone, we have decided to establish a monument marking \u201cthe Birthplace of the Wind Phone.\u201d Through this, we hope to seek everyone\u2019s support in maintaining and preserving the environment as it is, while also clearly recording and examining the history of the Wind Phone, both past and future.<\/p>\n
For more information about the Association for Preserving the Wind Phone, please visit our website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Wind Phone, located on a hill in Namiita, Otsuchi Town, was established in December 2010. It was originally created out of personal grief following the death of my cousin. The following year, the Great East Japan Earthquake claimed many precious lives, leaving behind bereaved family members many times greater in number, each carrying grief … <\/p>\n