Japan-Turkey Relations

January 2012

Basic Data

General:

Japan and the Republic of Turkey have maintained good relations for over a century. There has been wide-ranging interaction between the two countries, including visits by eminent persons, as well as economic and cultural exchange. These exchanges have been increasing since a visit to Turkey by Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe in 1983. Turkey's former premier Turgut Ozal (prime minister 1983-89, president 1989-93, died April 1993), who was familiar with Japanese affairs, also played an important role in the growth of the relationship.

There have been various exchanges of visits by eminent persons, such as the visits of Crown Prince Naruhito in March 2009 and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in January 2010.

The friendly relations, which started with the visit of Ottoman Empire's Ertugrul Frigate to Japan and the disaster following the visit, has reached its 120th anniversary in 2010. Not only the Ertugrul Frigate Disaster but also several historical incidents such as the rescue of Japanese people by a Turkish Airlines plane during Iran-Iraq War that symbolize the friendship between two countries are frequently mentioned. Commemorating 120th anniversary of the friendship between Japan and Turkey, "Japan Year 2010 in Turkey" was held and 186 various events were held in all over Turkey through the whole year.

Diplomatic Relations:

1924	August	Japan recognizes the Republic of Turkey.
1925	March	Japan opens an embassy in Turkey.
1925	July	Turkey opens an embassy in Japan.
1945	January	Turkey severs relations with Japan.
1945	February	Turkey declares war on Japan and Germany.
1952	June	Turkey reopens its embassy in Japan.
1953	May	Japan reopens its embassy in Turkey.
1965		Japan establishes a consulate in Istanbul (upgraded to consulate-general status in 1972)

Bilateral Treaties and Agreements:

1930	Commerce and navigation treaty
1957	Visa exemption agreement
1989	Agreement between Japan and Turkey for Air Services
1992	Agreement between Japan and Turkey Concerning the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment
1993	Convention between Japan and Turkey for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Income Taxes

Number of Residents:

1,571 Japanese residents in Turkey (as of June 2011)

2,452 Turkish residents in Japan (as of July 2010)

Trade with Japan (in US Dollars):

Principal imports from Japan: $3.30 billion (2010)

(Communications equipment, automobiles, machinery, iron and steel, engines, chemical and optical equipment)

Principal exports to Japan: $272 million (2010)

(Tuna, leaf tobacco, processed foods, volatile oils, chrome steel, carpets, glass products)

Economic Assistance from Japan:

Japan regards Turkey as one of its most important aid recipients in the Middle East and actively provides assistance. This stance reflects the following factors: First, Turkey is an important nation, and is contributing to regional stability with its moderate and realistic foreign policy and by working harmoniously with the West while maintaining friendly and cooperative relations with neighboring Eastern European countries and Newly Independent States. Second, Turkey's need for aid is strong due to its large population. Third, Turkey is geopolitically important because of its location at the crossroads of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Japan’s Aid to Turkey:

List of Exchange of Notes

Loans: ¥592.192 billion (Cumulative total as of 2010)

Grant aid: ¥2.279 billion (Cumulative total as of 2007)

Technical cooperation: ¥41.461 billion (Cumulative total as of 2009)

Educational and Cultural Exchange:

(a) Cultural Exchange
Japan Week programs consisting of 15 events were held in Ankara and Istanbul during the visit of Prince and Princess Mikasa to Turkey in 1986. Since then, large-scale programs have been held in Turkey every year to introduce Japanese culture. In 2010, the 120th year since the Ertugrul Frigate Disaster, “Japan Year 2010 in Turkey” is held in Turkey to commemorate a century of friendship between the two nations.

In 1988, treasures from the Topkapi Palace were exhibited in Tokyo, Osaka, and Shimonoseki, providing the first opportunity for the Japanese to see treasures and important cultural assets of Turkey in Japan.

In May, 1998, the Turkish-Japanese foundation culture center was opened in Ankara by Suleyman Demirel, President of the Republic of Turkey and Prince and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa, and a variety of cultural events were held in the center. The center is expected to be a base for not only cultural exchange between two countries but also other various field of exchange.

(b) Japanese Language Education
Japanese language education in Turkey began in 1976 with the establishment of the first Japanese language course in the country by the Istanbul branch of the Turkey-Japan Women's Cultural Association. University-level Japanese language education began in earnest in 1986 with the establishment of a Japanese language and literature program in the faculty of letters of Ankara University. Japanese language education has grown over the years, and courses have been established in major universities in Turkey.

VIP Visits

Visits to Turkey (since 2000)

Year	Name
2000	State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ichita Yamamoto
2001	Minister of State Ryutaro Hashimoto
2002	Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka (January)
2002	Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Atsuko Toyama Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (October)
2003	Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (Nobuko), Princesses Akiko and Yohko
2004	Prince Tomohito of Mikasa
2005	Minister of Finance, Sadakazu Tanigaki (May)
2005	Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Princess Akiko (September)
2006	Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi
2008	Princess Akiko
2009	Crown Prince Naruhito
2010	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Katsuya Okada (January)
	Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (May)
	Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Princess Akiko (July)
	Speaker of the House of Representatives, Takahiro Yokomichi (July)

To Japan (since 2000)

Year	Name
2000	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem (April)
	Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mustafa Cumhur Ersumer (June)
	Minister of Public Works and Settlement, Mehmet Aydin (August)
	Environment Minister, Fevzi Aytekin (September)
2001	Minister of Tourism, Mustafa Tashar
2002	Minister of Public Works and Settlement, Akjan (March)
2002	Minister of Transport and Communication, Vural (April)
2003	Deputy Prime Minister, Ertugrul Yalcinbayir (Februrary)
	National Assembly Chairman, Bulent Arinc (June)
	Minister of Culture and Environment, Erkan Mumcu (August)
	Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Gul (December)
2004	Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
2007	Public Works Minister, Faruk Nafiz Ozak
2008	President, Abdullah Gul
2009	Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ertugrul Gunay
2010	Speaker of Grand National Assembly, Mehmet Ali Sahin (October)
	Minister of State, Zafer Caglayan (November)
	Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Binali Yildirim (December)
	Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yildiz (December)

Press Secretary's Press Conference on Turkey

Year	Month	Date
2009	September	3
2008	February	26
2006	April	14
2005	October	4
2003	November	21
2003	February	18
2002	February	8
2001	April	24
1998	October	13

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