Words for the Wind

Words for the Wind: a virtual wind phone

Words for the Wind is a free, private online wind phone. Write what you never got to say to someone you miss, then release it and watch the words blur and fade away on the wind.

What is a wind phone?

A wind phone (kaze no denwa, 風の電話) is a disconnected telephone inside a phone booth in a garden in Ōtsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Garden designer Itaru Sasaki built it in 2010 to help him cope with the death of his cousin. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, many people who had lost loved ones began visiting to speak to them. The idea is that the wind carries your words to the person you are calling.

How the virtual wind phone works

1. Write a message to someone you miss, in whatever words you like.
2. Press Release. Your words blur and fade away.
3. The text box clears, and nothing is kept. You can write another message if you want to.

Is it private?

Yes. Nothing you write is collected, stored or sent anywhere. Your message exists only in your browser until you release it. There are no accounts, cookies, trackers or analytics.

Who is it for?

Anyone who is grieving, or who has something unsaid: a goodbye, an apology, a thank you, or a letter you never sent. It is a quiet place to speak to someone who can no longer answer.

If you are struggling with grief, please consider reaching out to someone you trust or a local support line. Words for the Wind is free to use. If it helped you, you can support the site with a donation (opens in a new tab).