Japan-Turkey Relations April 2000 General Japan and the Republic of Turkey have maintained good relations for over a century. Since the 1980s, in particular, there has been wide-ranging interaction between the two countries, including visits by eminent persons, as well as economic and cultural exchange. This exchange has been increasing since a visit to Turkey by Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe in 1983. There have been various exchanges of visits by eminent persons, such as the visits of Prince and Princess Mikasa and Prince and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa to Turkey. Recent Japanese visitors to Turkey include Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu and Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama in 1990, and Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda in May 1996, and Director-General of National Land Agency Hisaoki Kamei in January 1998.
Turkey is regarded as a country friendly to Japan.
A relatively recent event that illustrated the extent of Turkey's friendship with Japan occurred in March 1985 during the Iran-Iraq War. As hostilities escalated, foreign airlines maintained a policy of giving first priority to their own nationals and refused to carry Japanese passengers. Turkey rescued 215 Japanese nationals by making available seats on special Turkish Airlines flights. Japan recognizes the Republic of Turkey. Turkey opens an embassy in Japan.