Emperor Naruhito of Japan’s 66th birthday was celebrated with a reception in Ankara. Japan’s Ambassador to Ankara, Tamura Masami, drew attention by singing along to the Turkish National Anthem during the event. Saying she began her post last October, Ambassador Masami said one of the first things she did in Türkiye was memorize the anthem. “I memorized the national anthem to show my respect to the Turkish people. Singing the İstiklal Marşı together with Turks is a powerful feeling, because independence, istiklal, is very important for Turks,” she said.
Among the many high-level attendees at the reception hosted by Ambassador Masami were Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi, TBMM) Bülent Arınç, Commander of the Land Forces General Metin Tokel, and Deputy Minister of National Defense Bilal Durdalı.
A BRIDGE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER EXPERIENCE AND THE FUTURE
Speaking at the reception, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç emphasized the historic ties between Türkiye and Japan, saying the 1890 Ertuğrul Frigate disaster and the 1985 evacuation from Tehran are among the strongest symbols of the closeness between the two countries. “We see diplomacy not only as contacts between states, but as a bridge between civilizations. The friendship between Türkiye and Japan is exactly such a bridge, connecting East and West, two ancient civilizations of Asia, and bringing together experience and the future,” Tunç said.
Tunç underlined that Japan, being among the first to extend a helping hand after the 1999 Marmara earthquake and the February 6, 2023, earthquake,s will always be remembered with gratitude. He also recalled that after the 2011 earthquake in Japan, Türkiye showed strong and sincere support for Japan.
THE FIRST VISIT TOOK PLACE DURING THE REIGN OF ABDULHAMID II
Ambassador Tamura Masami also recalled that the first official visit by Japanese representatives to Türkiye took place in 1887, when Prince and Princess Komatsu were received in Istanbul by Abdulhamid II. She also noted that during the 2025 visit to Türkiye by Princess Akiko, in addition to Ankara and Istanbul, she visited archaeological sites such as Kaman Kalehöyük in Kırşehir and Ayanlar Höyük in Şanlıurfa, where Japanese archaeologists continue to work closely with their Turkish colleagues to shed light on the mysteries of ancient civilizations.
INDEPENDENCE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR TURKS
Recalling her participation in the İstiklal Marşı at the reception, Ambassador Masami said she began her post last October and that one of the first things she did was memorize the National Anthem. “I memorized the national anthem to show my respect to the Turkish people. Singing the İstiklal Marşı together with Turks is a powerful feeling, because independence, istiklal, is very important for Turks,” she said.
