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Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Turkish Naval Forces Naval Museum in Istanbul after completing his NATO-related talks in Ankara, placing the Ertugrul Frigate at the center of his Türkiye visit.
Koizumi toured the museum's exhibition on the Ertugrul Frigate, a warship remembered as one of the most important symbols of friendship between Türkiye and Japan.
Speaking after the visit, Koizumi said the Ertugrul Frigate incident carries deep meaning for relations between Japan and Türkiye.
"After completing our program in Ankara, we visited the Naval Museum belonging to the Turkish Naval Forces in Istanbul. Our aim was to see the exhibition about the Ertugrul Frigate. This is a history that must never be forgotten when speaking about the friendship and good relations between Japan and Türkiye," he said.
Koizumi also pointed to the historical connection between Türkiye and his hometown, Yokosuka, saying the link had left a strong impression on him.
"I was very moved that the history of Japan and Türkiye is connected in this way with my hometown, Yokosuka," he said.
The Japanese defense minister also thanked the Turkish Naval Forces personnel who accompanied him during the visit and expressed appreciation for their hospitality.
The Ertugrul Frigate, which set sail from Istanbul in July 1889 carrying an Ottoman diplomatic mission, visited several ports before arriving in Yokohama.
The mission's tragic end came when the frigate struck rocks near Kushimoto on Sept. 16, 1890. Out of the 609 crew members, only 69 survived, and 550 Ottoman sailors perished.
This poignant chapter in history is remembered as a significant event in the diplomacy between Japan and Türkiye, with the legacy of the Ertugrul Frigate continuing to live on in the hearts of both nations.
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