Historical connections between Turkey and Japan offer rich background material for historical storytelling, drawing from real-world events spanning over a century.
What's new
While interest in historical narratives remains strong, specific details regarding new television show titles, production schedules, or broadcast platforms are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
The core historical background centers on a long-standing diplomatic relationship that began during the Meiji era and extended into modern times, defined by acts of mutual aid between the citizens and governments of both nations.
About the series
Any specific television adaptation, cast details, episode count, or air dates are not specified in the source; please check the official notice. However, the historical facts behind this enduring international relationship include the following events:
- In September 1890 (Meiji 23), the Ottoman Empire warship Ertuğrul delivered congratulations to the Meiji Emperor.
- While returning home, the frigate encountered a typhoon, collided with a cliff, and sank off Oshima in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture.
- Out of more than 600 crew members, most lost their lives. Local residents used their own supplies to rescue and nurse the survivors, and 69 survivors were safely transported back to Turkey on two Japanese warships.
- The Ottoman Empire dealt with Napoleon's invasion of Ottoman Egypt in 1798 and eventually collapsed following World War I. Led by founding father Atatürk (Mustafa Kemal), a national movement abolished the empire and established the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
What to expect
The memory of this disaster and the resulting goodwill have been passed down across generations at both civilian and national levels:
- In 1985, during the Iran-Iraq War, a Turkish Airlines plane rescued Japanese citizens stranded in Tehran to repay the kindness shown during the 1890 shipwreck.
- This history is taught in Turkish school textbooks and featured in Japanese social studies, history, and moral education textbooks from publishers such as Tokyo Shoseki and Teikoku Shoin.
- Japanese compulsory education textbooks also cover other humanitarian historical events, including Chiune Sugihara issuing transit visas to Jewish refugees during World War II.
Source: turkish historical drama - BingNews · Published September 30, 2026