TCG Kinaliada Corvette docks in Kushimoto, marking 100 years of Türkiye-Japan ties

The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced Sunday that the TCG Kinaliada Corvette has arrived in Kushimoto, Japan, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Türkiye-Japan diplomatic relations and the 134th anniversary of the Ertugrul Frigate incident.

The corvette had departed from Izmir in April.

“The TCG Kinaliada, which embarked on its journey for the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Japan and the 134th anniversary of the Ertugrul Frigate Incident, has arrived in Kushimoto, Japan,” the ministry said on social media.

Türkiye ile Japonya arasındaki diplomatik ilişkilerin 100’üncü yıldönümü ve Ertuğrul Fırkateyni Kazası 134’üncü Yıl Anma Törenleri için yola çıkan TCG KINALIADA, Kushimoto/Japonya’ya ulaştı.#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı pic.twitter.com/qPOvUfgtwH

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) June 8, 2024

Following the arrival of TCG Kinaliada Corvette in Japan, it was learned that a ceremony will be held tomorrow in Kushimoto to commemorate the 134th anniversary of the Ertuğrul Frigate Incident in honor of the martyrs.

The Japanese people are excited about the TCG Kinaliada Corvette’s visit to their country, marking the 100th year of Turkish-Japanese diplomatic relations and the 134th year since the Ertugrul Frigate’s voyage.

The TCG Kinaliada, which embarked on its journey in April from Izmir, has reached its destination in the Far East, Kushimoto, a city of historical significance in Turkish-Japanese relations.

The crew of the ship, anchored off the coast of the city, will participate in an official ceremony tomorrow at the Ertuğrul Frigate Martyrs Monument located on the Kasino beach in Kushimoto.

The ceremony, expected to be attended by Japanese Princess Akiko and officials from both countries, will pay tribute to the Ottoman sailors who lost their lives 134 years ago in the tragic incident.

‘Ertugrul, a story uniting two maritime nations’

Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tokyo, Korkut Gungen, expressed their readiness for the ceremony in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), recalling that the Ertugrul Frigate arrived in Japan in 1890 under the conditions of the time and completed its mission before the unfortunate accident on the return journey.

Gungen mentioned that unfortunately, some of the sailors lost their lives in the tragic accident, and some were rescued with the support of the people of Kushimoto.

He emphasized the historical importance of this tragic event in the relations between the two countries, both being maritime nations. “Ertugrul is an important story that brings together two maritime nations,” Gungen said.

‘TCG Kinaliada symbolizes national pride’

Gungen expressed great excitement for the ceremony tomorrow at the Turkish Martyrs’ Cemetery and noted the significant interest observed on social media for the ship and the event.

He mentioned that despite adverse weather, the Japanese people are coming to Kushimoto just to see our ship. Gungen also announced that the corvette will be open to public visits in Tokyo and Hiroshima.

Gungen expressed their long-awaited anticipation for the arrival of the TCG Kinaliada and the honor of its flag waving in these three ports, highlighting the ship’s significance as a symbol of national pride and the progress made in our defense industry.

‘Turkish-friendly’ Kushimoto

Residents of Kushimoto, from young to old, expressed their excitement about the arrival of the corvette and the ceremony in their city.

A taxi driver named Maeda, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed his desire to attend the ceremony at the Turkish Martyrs’ Cemetery if his schedule permits, and he hoped for the successful organization of the event and the continuation of Turkish-Japanese friendship.

A representative of the Kushimoto Tourism Association, Aoki, expressed great excitement for the arrival of the Turkish ship in their city and mentioned the widespread Turkish culture in the area.

Aoki noted the presence of many Turkish tourists in the city, expressing hope that the warm atmosphere of the Turkish-friendly city of Kushimoto, along with its historical heritage, would be felt during the event.

‘We learned the story of Ertugrul Frigate from school curriculum’

A high school student named Hasino mentioned learning about the Ertuğrul Frigate’s story from the school curriculum and expressed admiration for Turkish culture, including ice cream, prevalent in the city.

Although unable to attend the ceremony because of personal reasons, Hasino expressed eagerness to watch the news and follow the organization of the event, hoping to visit Türkiye in the future to see its tourist attractions and taste local cuisine.

A train station employee, Kimura, also expressed his desire to participate in events like the ceremony, believing that deepening Japanese-Turkish friendship is positive.

The news reflected the excitement and anticipation surrounding the arrival of the TCG Kinaliada Corvette in Japan and the commemoration of the historical ties between Türkiye and Japan through events like the Ertugrul Frigate Incident ceremony.

Before reaching Japan, the TCG Kinaliada also made stops at the ports of Hong Kong and Busan, contributing to Türkiye-China and Türkiye-South Korea relations.