125 Years Memory

In a tale of unexpected connections and acts of kindness, two significant events from the past have woven the bond between Japan and Turkey even tighter. The first incident dates back to the 16th of September in the year 1890 when the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul found itself in the midst of a brutal typhoon off the coast of Japan, leading to its tragic sinking. Miraculously, local villagers risked their own safety to save 69 Turkish sailors from the unforgiving waters. Despite their own meager circumstances and limited resources, these compassionate villagers selflessly shared what little they had with strangers hailing from a land thousands of kilometers away.

Fast forward 95 years to a time of conflict during the Iran-Iraq War, where over 300 Japanese nationals found themselves stranded in Tehran. On the 19th of March in 1985, a Turkish Airlines plane was dispatched to evacuate the stranded Japanese individuals. However, amidst the chaos and uncertainty at Tehran Mehrabad Airport, the remaining Turkish citizens awaited reassurance that they would not be left behind in their own country's desperate hour of need. These two incidents, separated by time and space, serve as a testament to the enduring friendship and solidarity between Japan and Turkey, forged through shared hardships and acts of compassion.