Public Payphone Day

What Is Public Payphone Day?

September 11th marks "Public Payphone Day" in Japan, commemorating the installation of the country's first coin-operated public telephones at Shimbashi and Ueno stations in Tokyo on this day in 1900 (Meiji 33).

The Origin of Japan's Public Communication Network

Public Payphone Day celebrates the historic moment when telephones became accessible to the general public for the first time in Japan.

• Origin: On September 11, 1900, Japan's first automatic public telephones (then called "jido denwa") were installed inside Shimbashi and Ueno stations
• How they worked: callers first rang an operator, then inserted a 10-sen or 5-sen coin as needed to be connected. The name "public telephone" came into use around 1925, when dial phones that needed no operator appeared
• Spread across the country: Payphones gradually spread nationwide, becoming an essential piece of communication infrastructure available to anyone
• Today: With the rise of mobile phones, the number of public payphones has sharply declined, and they are now a rare sight on city streets

A Lifeline Rediscovered in Times of Disaster

When mobile networks go down during power outages or become congested after a disaster, public payphones can still function as a reliable way to make calls. As their numbers dwindle, their value as emergency infrastructure is being reconsidered.

Ways to Mark the Day

• Check where the nearest public payphone is located, near home, work, or school
• Teach children or family members how to use a payphone
• Talk with your family about communication plans in case of a disaster
• Learn more about the history of telecommunications in Japan

Worth Remembering, Just in Case

Public Payphone Day is a chance to look back at the origins of Japan's communication network and reconsider the role of a disappearing piece of infrastructure. On September 11th, why not check where the nearest payphone is located?