Japan’s crown prince, princess mark centennial of relations with Türkiye

By Anadolu Staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko visited Istanbul as part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

During a ceremony marking the centennial on Thursday, Crown Prince Akishino emphasized the long-standing friendship between Türkiye and Japan, highlighting their solidarity in times of crises such as earthquakes.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," he remarked, expressing hope for another century of strong relations.

Speaking at the event, Japan’s Ambassador to Türkiye Katsumata Takahiko praised the nations’ enduring ties, recalling Türkiye's support for Japan’s post-World War II reintegration into the international community.

The royal couple visited the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque on Thursday and toured on Friday Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, where they explored an exhibition by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota inspired by Istanbul's cosmopolitan identity and his personal migration story.

The royals met Turkish citizens with ties to Japan at the Ciragan Palace, including academics and members of Turkish-Japanese friendship associations. They expressed gratitude to crew members Koray Gokberk, Ayse Ozalp, and Sevil Atici, who participated in the 1985 evacuation of Japanese nationals from Tehran.

The crown prince and princess also met students in Istanbul working on a disaster risk reduction project as part of their visit. The event organized by the Turkish Japanese Foundation aims to raise awareness about natural disasters.

Japan’s Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko arrived in Ankara on Tuesday evening, marking the royal couple's first visit to Türkiye and the 100th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic relations. They are scheduled to return to Japan on Sunday.