When the small Japanese seaside town of Susami needed a tourism boost, an unlikely resident came to the rescue: the town’s postmaster. Together with the local diving community, former postmaster Toshihiko Matsumoto helped establish the world’s first underwater mailbox. Those willing to make the plunge can strap on a wetsuit and mail letters from 30 feet under the sea. Incredibly, dive shop owner Hiroaki Yamatani descends each day to collect and deliver these letters to the post office. To date, almost 38,000 letters have been sent from under the sea.

This Great Big Story was made in partnership with ANA. (

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