A monument to friendship stands here. That is the Consulate-General of Japan. It represents a unique bond between Japan and Turkey. This relationship started long ago and continues to thrive.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Istanbul is in the Tekfen Tower. You can find it on the 10th floor. The address is Buyukdere Caddesi No 209, 4. Levent, Istanbul. It is not just a building. It symbolizes the connection between two nations.
Japan has an embassy in Ankara too. Turkey also has an embassy in Tokyo. Plus, there is a consulate-general in Nagoya. These locations show how important the relationship is.
The relationship has been called close. It began in the 19th century. A key event happened in 1890. The Turkish frigate Ertugrul sank off the coast of Japan. Japanese frigates rescued the surviving sailors. They brought them back to Istanbul.
The Meiji Emperor had received the Ertugrul crew. A monument now stands in Kushimoto. It honors the Ottoman sailors. It is called the Kushimoto Turkish Memorial and Museum.
In 2015, a movie came out. It was called 125 Years Memory. It marked the anniversary of friendship between Japan and Turkey. The film tells two stories. One is about the Ertugrul sinking. The other is about rescuing Japanese nationals from Iran in 1985.
Many Turks in the Ottoman Empire admired Japan. They felt connected to Japan because both were Asian nations. Japan had modernized but stayed true to its roots. Both Turks and Japanese had a common enemy, Russia.
The Meiji Emperor sent princes to visit Sultan Abdul Hamid II. They brought gifts and treaty proposals. Abdul Hamid II admired Japan but worried about rumors. People said the Emperor might convert to Islam and become Caliph.
The Committee of Union and Progress also admired Japan. They saw Japan as a model. Japan’s victory over Russia in 1905 was inspiring. It showed that an Asian nation could defeat a Western power.
The Unionists liked that Japan embraced science without losing its Eastern spirit. They wanted to make the Ottoman Empire the Japan of the Near East. They were proud of their East Asian origins.
Modernization policies in the Ottoman Empire after 1908 were based on Meiji Japan. One Unionist hoped they would rise like the Rising Sun. The Young Turks dreamed of an alliance with Japan. They thought it could unite Eastern peoples against the West.
The Young Turks admired Bushido. It is the samurai code of honor. They wanted to create a similar militaristic education system in Turkey.
Efforts to create a treaty between Japan and the Ottoman Empire failed. During World War I, Japan was with the Allies. The Ottoman Empire was with the Central Powers.
Diplomatic relations began in 1924 after the Republic of Turkey was founded. The first Japanese ambassador was Sadatsuchi Uchida. In 1926, he started the Japan-Turkey Society. It promoted exchange between the two countries.
Turkey declared war on Japan in February 1945. But it was symbolic. In 1985, Turkey rescued 215 Japanese nationals from Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War. This act repaid the kindness of the Japanese in saving the Ertugrul sailors.
The Japan-Turkey Society continues to promote friendship through various activities. A cultural dialogue society also records exchange activities since 1873.
A survey in 2012 showed that most Turks see Japan as friendly. Both countries have provided support to each other after earthquakes.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Istanbul stands as a symbol. It shows a lasting friendship built on history, respect, and mutual support. The consulate’s phone number is (+90) 212 317 4600. Its email is culture@jpcons-ist.com. You can visit from Monday to Friday. The hours are 09.00-17.30.