Istanbul visit, public tours: Japan marks100 years of diplomacy with Türkiye

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Turkish-Japanese diplomatic relations, Japan’s return visit to Istanbul holds great significance. To honor this milestone, the Turkish corvette TCG Kinilada undertook a notable two-week program in Japan, visiting three ports in June.

In preparation for the anniversary events, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships JS Shimakaze and JS Kashima anchored off Moda Beach in Istanbul on Aug. 8. Their visit, set to commence tomorrow (Aug.9), will see the ships dock at Sarayburnu Port.

They will be open to the public for tours on Saturday and Sunday.

The celebration includes a special band performance at Besiktas Square on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The ships are scheduled to depart Sarayburnu Port on Monday morning.

Overseas training cruise visits

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Training Squadron continues its 2024 Overseas Training Cruise with the participation of 570 personnel and students on board the training ships JS Shimakaze and JS Kashima.

This 175-day program, which began on May 20 and will conclude on Nov. 11, plans to cover over 35,000 nautical miles with port visits scheduled at Muara, Victoria, Cape Town, Dakar, Naples, Istanbul, Valencia, Hamburg, London, Southampton, Norfolk, Pearl Harbor and Acapulco.

Ship profiles

• JS Kashima かしま (TV-3508): Commissioned on January 26, 1995, JS Kashima serves as the flagship of the Training Squadron.
• JS Shimakaze しまかぜ (TV-3521, formerly DDG-172): Initially commissioned on March 23, 1988, as the second Hatakaze-class destroyer, JS Shimakaze has been repurposed as a training ship since 2021.

Celebratory activities

As part of the celebrations, the JMSDF band will perform at Beşiktaş Square, showcasing the deepening cultural ties between Japan and Türkiye.

The band performance, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, is expected to draw significant public interest.

The visit to Istanbul by JS Shimakaze and JS Kashima not only strengthens bilateral military cooperation but also symbolizes the enduring friendship and mutual respect between Japan and Türkiye.

TCG Kinaliada’s visit

The TCG Kinaliada Corvette left the country after completing its trip to Japan for the 100th anniversary of Türkiye-Japan diplomatic relations and the 134th anniversary of the Ertuğrul Frigate’s sailing.

Approximately 3,000 people visited the Turkish Navy ship during its tour. TCG Kinaliada’s historic trip to Japan, which covered June 8-21 and included the ports of Kusimoto, the capital of Tokyo and Hiroshima, has ended.