From Calls to Fins: Japan’s Old Phone Booths Find New Life as Goldfish Aquariums
In an age when mobile phones are our constant companions, the once-ubiquitous phone booth has slipped quietly into obsolescence. Where they once stood as beacons of connectivity, many now gather dust or are dismantled altogether. But in Osaka, Japan, a creative group has found a way to give these relics a second life — and it involves scales, fins, and a whole lot of water.
Meet Kingyobu, an art collective whose name translates to “goldfish club.” Their mission? To transform disused phone booths into vibrant goldfish aquariums, blending urban nostalgia with living art.
A Symbol of Change
The decline of the payphone is hardly unique to Japan. Around the world, the proliferation of mobile technology has made public telephones redundant. Yet while most countries have dismantled their booths, Japan has a deep respect for its cultural artifacts — and the phone booth, while not ancient, holds a certain place in the nation’s collective memory.
Kingyobu’s project taps into this sentiment. By converting old phone booths into goldfish habitats, they are not only saving them from landfill but also creating unexpected moments of wonder in the urban landscape.
The Art of the Goldfish
Why goldfish? In Japan, goldfish are more than just decorative pets — they’re symbols of prosperity, good fortune, and summer festivals. The sight of them swimming gracefully in glass bowls is a common theme in traditional art and seasonal events.
By placing goldfish inside these towering aquariums, Kingyobu creates a visual contrast between the fast-paced, tech-driven city and the serene, timeless world of aquatic life. It’s a reminder to pause, breathe, and appreciate the beauty in the everyday.
From Booth to Tank: The Transformation Process
Turning a phone booth into an aquarium isn’t as simple as filling it with water. The process begins with waterproofing the structure — every seam, joint, and surface must be sealed to prevent leaks. The glass panes, once designed to keep rain out, now have to hold the pressure of hundreds of liters of water.
Next, the booths are equipped with aeration systems to ensure the goldfish have oxygen-rich water. Interestingly, the original phones are often left inside, floating relics of a bygone era, creating a surreal blend of the old function and the new.
Finally, the booths are stocked with goldfish and other decorative elements. Feeding and maintenance are carried out from the top of the booth, much like a standard fish tank, but on a far grander scale.
Public Reaction: Curiosity and Joy
Since the installations began appearing, Osaka locals and tourists alike have flocked to see them. The bright orange of the goldfish stands out vividly against the city’s gray pavements and concrete walls, drawing in passersby. Children press their noses to the glass. Office workers stop to snap photos on their lunch breaks.
These aquariums have become free, open-air exhibitions, sparking conversations and encouraging people to reconsider how urban space can be repurposed creatively.
Art Meets Urban Renewal
Kingyobu’s work is part of a broader trend in adaptive reuse — the practice of reimagining outdated infrastructure for new purposes. Across the globe, old factories become loft apartments, railway lines turn into public parks, and phone booths find second lives as Wi-Fi stations, mini-libraries, or charging hubs.
In Osaka, these goldfish tanks stand as a uniquely Japanese interpretation of that trend, combining practicality with cultural symbolism and artistry.
Challenges Behind the Glass
Of course, maintaining a large public aquarium in the middle of a city isn’t without challenges. Water quality must be constantly monitored to keep the fish healthy. Tanks exposed to sunlight can quickly develop algae blooms. Temperature regulation becomes crucial in Japan’s hot, humid summers and chilly winters.
The Kingyobu team appears to take these responsibilities seriously. Photos from their social media show regular cleaning, feeding, and seasonal adjustments. In a way, these tanks require the same care as any aquarium — just on a more public and visible stage.
Why Projects Like This Matter
Beyond the novelty, there’s a deeper value in projects like Kingyobu’s. They challenge the idea that once a technology becomes outdated, its associated infrastructure must be destroyed. Instead, they suggest that objects can evolve, acquiring new meanings and uses over time.
There’s also the community aspect: by placing these art pieces in everyday public spaces, Kingyobu makes art accessible to everyone, not just gallery-goers. Someone who might never step into a museum can still have an aesthetic, thought-provoking encounter while walking to work.
A Glimpse Into the Future of Public Spaces
Could this idea inspire similar projects elsewhere? It’s not far-fetched. In cities around the world, thousands of phone booths stand unused. Transforming them into miniature art installations, vertical gardens, or aquariums could breathe new life into neglected corners of the urban environment.
Of course, not every city has Japan’s cultural connection to goldfish, but the concept of merging nostalgia with nature could take many forms — tropical fish in coastal cities, terrariums in green-minded urban centers, or even tiny libraries in literary towns.
The Balance of Art and Responsibility
As charming as these goldfish phone booths are, they also highlight an important point: public art that involves living creatures carries ethical responsibilities. The welfare of the fish must come before aesthetic considerations. Kingyobu’s apparent dedication to maintenance is encouraging, and their success could set a standard for how such projects are managed elsewhere.
From Technology to Tranquility
In a poetic sense, the transformation from phone booth to fish tank mirrors a cultural shift. Payphones represented speed, connectivity, and constant communication — qualities that defined the late 20th century. Aquariums, by contrast, symbolize patience, stillness, and observation.
By filling a symbol of fast-paced technology with a world that moves at the slow rhythm of goldfish, Kingyobu invites us to reflect on how our relationship with time, technology, and the city is changing.
Final Thoughts
The goldfish phone booths of Osaka are more than quirky curiosities; they’re living, breathing examples of how creativity can bridge the gap between past and present. They remind us that obsolescence doesn’t have to mean the end — with imagination, it can be the beginning of something entirely new.
So next time you pass a forgotten piece of city infrastructure, whether it’s a phone booth, a bus stop, or a faded street sign, ask yourself: what else could it be? The answer might just swim right past you.
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