Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan will travel to Türkiye on Tuesday for a goodwill visit to celebrate the centenary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Türkiye.
The long-standing friendship between Türkiye and Japan was highlighted by the Ertuğrul frigate disaster that occurred on September 15, 1890.
On September 15, 1890, the Ertuğrul frigate, which had departed from Yokohama Port, was caught in a typhoon off the coast of Kushimoto and struck rocks, sinking on September 16, 1890. Only 69 sailors survived the disaster, while Admiral Osman Bey and the rest of the crew lost their lives.
The tragic end of the Ertuğrul frigate brought the Turkish and Japanese peoples closer together.
During their visit to Türkiye, Prince Akishino plans to visit the Kalehöyük archaeological site in Kaman, which is associated with his late great-uncle, Prince Mikasa, a scholar of ancient Eastern history.
According to a report in Japan News, Prince Mikasa supported the excavations at the site, and the Crown Prince and Princess will explore the history of cultural and academic exchanges between the two countries, which the Imperial Family has helped facilitate.
Excavation work at the Kalehöyük archaeological site, initiated by the late Prince Mikasa, who passed away in 2016, is still ongoing under the Middle Eastern Culture Center established in Japan. Prince Mikasa had laid the foundation stone at the site in 1986.
Atsuko Toyama, an 85-year-old advisor to the Japan-Türkiye Association, recalled that before starting her diplomatic mission in Türkiye in 1996, Prince Mikasa had expressed a desire for her to see the “breathtaking” archaeological site. He mentioned that he would provide reports about the site every time he returned to Japan.
Toyama stated, “Normally, foreign countries are not allowed to conduct excavations at archaeological sites. The respect for the Imperial Family led to the excavation being carried out by a Japanese research institute.”
Prince Tomohito and his daughter, Princess Akiko, attended the opening of the research building in 2005.
Crown Prince Akishino, during a press conference held last month before the goodwill visit, stated, “Continuing research with the Turkish people and researchers from other countries for nearly 40 years is very important in terms of academic exchange.”
The Imperial couple plans to observe the classification of the excavated artifacts and meet with people involved in the project, including 78-year-old Sachihiro Omura, who has been part of the excavation since the research began.
The Japan Institute of Anatolian Archaeology (JIAA) has created local job opportunities. Some of the local children who assisted with the Kaman Höyük excavations have become researchers. Additionally, some participants have received education to become doctors and lawyers through a scholarship program initiated by Prince Mikasa.
Cover Photo: Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP