Japan-Türkiye Business Network
日本・トルコネットワーク
Our initiative aims to facilitate cooperation between Japan and Türkiye
E-mail: info@turkiye.jp
Japan-Türkiye Relations
Japan-Türkiye relations have a rich history, beginning in 1873 with the visit of Japan's First Secretary of the State, Fukuchi Genichiro, to Türkiye. Diplomatic ties were formalized in 1924 when Japan officially recognized Türkiye, followed by the opening of embassies in both countries in 1925. Over the years, their relationship strengthened through commerce and navigation treaties in the 1930s, and post-World War II saw further engagement, including visa exemptions in the 1950s.
In recent decades, high-level visits, cultural exchanges, and agreements on nuclear energy and air services have deepened their partnership, reflecting a lasting and evolving collaboration between the two nations.
The History of the Japan-Türkiye Relations
Before 1950
1873: First Secretary of the State of Japan, Fukuchi Genichiro visited Türkiye
1887: HIH Prince and Princess Komatsu of Japan visited Türkiye
1890 June: Admiral Commander of Turkish Naval Forces, Osman Pasha and Turkish delegate visited Japan
1891 January: Commander of Japanese Naval Forces, Oyama Takanosuke and Japanese delegate visited Türkiye
1924 August: Japan officially recognized Türkiye
1925 March: Japan opened an embassy in Istanbul, Türkiye
1925 July: Türkiye opened an embassy in Japan
1930: Commerce and navigation treaty between Japan and Türkiye was signed
1934 April: Commerce and navigation treaty between Japan and Türkiye became effective
1937 October: Japan moved her embassy from Istanbul to Ankara
1950 - 1989
1952 June: Türkiye reopened its embassy in Japan.
1953 May: Japan reopened its embassy in Türkiye.
1957: Visa exemption agreement between Japan and Türkiye was signed
1958 January: Visa exemption agreement between Japan and Türkiye became effective
1965 January: Japan establishes a consulate in Istanbul
1972 October: Japan upgraded its Istanbul consulate to consulate-general status
1989 July: Agreement between Japan and Türkiye for Air Services was signed
1990 - 2009
1992: Agreement between Japan and Türkiye Concerning the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment was signed
1993 March: Agreement between Japan and Türkiye Concerning the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment became effective
1993: Convention between Japan and Türkiye for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Income Taxes was signed
1994 December: Convention between Japan and Türkiye for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Income Taxes became effective
1998 May: Turkish-Japanese foundation culture center was opened in Türkiye
1998 May: HIH Prince Tomohito of Japan visited Türkiye
1999 August: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Masahiko Koumura visited Türkiye
2000: State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ichita Yamamoto visited Türkiye
2000 April: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Ismail Cem visited Japan
2000 June: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye, Mustafa Cumhur Ersumer visited Japan
2000 June: State Minister of Türkiye, Fikret Unlu visited Japan (The opening of Tokyo Mosque)
2000 August: Minister of Public Works and Settlement of Türkiye, Mehmet Aydin visited Japan
2000 August: State Minister for Maritime Affairs of Türkiye, Ramazan Mirzaoglu visited Japan
2000 September: Minister of Environment of Türkiye, Fevzi Aytekin visited Japan
2000 November: State Minister for Economy of Türkiye, Recep Onal visited Japan
2001 January: Minister of State of Japan, Ryutaro Hashimoto visited Türkiye
2001 November: Minister of Tourism of Türkiye, Mustafa Tashar visited Japan
2002 January: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Makiko Tanaka visited Türkiye
2002 January: Minister of State of Türkiye, Edip Safder Gaydali visited Japan (Afghanistan Reconstruction Assistance International Conference)
2002 March: Minister of Public Works and Settlement of Türkiye, Abdulkadir Akcan visited Japan
2002 April: Minister of Transport and Communication of Türkiye, Oktay Vural visited Japan
2002 June: State Minister of Türkiye, Fikret Unlu visited Japan (Soccer World Cup 2002)
2002 July: Chairman of the Japan-Türkiye Friendship Council, Muraoka visited Türkiye
2002 October: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Atsuko Toyama visited Türkiye
2002 October: HIH Prince Tomohito of Japan visited Türkiye
2002 November: Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan (Special Envoy of the Prime Minister), Toshimitsu Motegi visited Türkiye
2003 February: Taro Nakayama, Special Envoy of Prime Minister visited Türkiye
2003 February: Deputy Prime Minister of Türkiye, Ertugrul Yalcinbayir visited Japan (Ceremony to commemorate the opening of the "Turkish Year")
2003 June: National Assembly Chairman of Türkiye, Bulent Arinc visited Japan
2003 June: HIH Prince Tomohito and HIH Princess Akiko visited Türkiye
2003 August: Minister of Culture and Environment of Türkiye, Erkan Mumcu visited Japan (NHK "Three Great Civilizations of Türkiye Exhibition" Opening Ceremony)
2003 September: Vice-Chairman of the House of Councilors, Japan-Türkiye Friendship Council, Japan, Shoji Motooka visited Türkiye
2003 October: HIH Prince and Princess Tomohito visited Türkiye
2003 December: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Abdullah Gul visited Japan
2004 April: Prime Minister of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Japan
2004 July: HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa of Japan visited Türkiye (Groundbreaking Ceremony of Anatolian Archaeological Institute)
2005 May: Minister of Finance of Japan, Sadakazu Tanigaki visited Türkiye (Asian Development Bank General Assembly)
2005 August: State Minister of Türkiye, Besir Atalay visited Japan
2005 September: HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa of Japan, HIH Princess Akiko of Japan visited Türkiye
2006 January: Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi visited Türkiye
2006 October: Minister of State of Türkiye, Kursad Tuzmen visited Japan
2007 February: Public Works Minister of Türkiye, Faruk Nafiz Ozak visited Japan
2007 May: Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shotaro Yachi visited Türkiye
2007 November: Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Itsunori Onodera visited Türkiye
2008 May: HIH Princess Akiko of Japan visited Türkiye
2008 June: President of Türkiye, Abdullah Gul visited Japan
2009: HIH Prince and Princess Akishino of Japan visited Romania
2009: HIH Prince and Princess Akishino of Japan visited Bulgaria
2009 March: Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan visited Türkiye
2009 October: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Serbia, Vuk Jeremic visited Japan
2009 October: Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertugrul Gunay visited Japan
2009 December: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Katsuya Okada visited Türkiye
2010 - 2019
2010 January: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Katsuya Okada visited Türkiye
2010 May: HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa of Japan visited Türkiye (“2010 Japan Year in Türkiye” Friendship Celebration Ceremony)
2010 July: HIH Prince Tomohito of Japan, HIH Princess Akiko of Japan visited Türkiye (Opening Ceremony of Anatolian Archaeological Institute)
2010 July: Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Takahiro Yokomichi visited Türkiye
2010 October: Speaker of Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Mehmet Ali Sahin visited Japan
2010 October: Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Zafer Caglayan visited Japan
2010 December: Minister of Transport and Telecommunications of Türkiye, Binali Yildirim, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye, Taner Yildiz visited Japan
2011 December: Deputy Prime Minister of Türkiye, Ali Babacan visited Japan
2012 January: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Koichiro Gemba visited Türkiye
2012 May: Minister of Science, Industry and Technology of Türkiye, Nihat Ergun visited Japan
2012 June: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Koichiro Gemba visited Türkiye (4th NPDI Foreign Ministers' Meeting)
2012 June: Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Istanbul
2012 June: Memorandum on Establishing a Framework for Cooperation in Economic Relations between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye" was signed in Tokyo
2012 July: Minister of Economy of Türkiye, Zafer Caglayan visited Japan
2012 October: Deputy Prime Minister of Türkiye, Ali Babacan and Minister of Health of Türkiye, Recep Akdag visited Japan
2013: HIH Prince and Princess Akishino of Japan visited Slovenia
2013: Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Minoru Kiuchi, HIH Prince and Princess Akishino of Japan, and Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Nobuo Kishi visited Croatia
2013: Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye for Co-operation in the use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes was signed
2013: Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government to the Republic of Türkiye for Co-operation for Development of Nuclear Power Industry in the Republic of Türkiye was signed
2013 March: Minister of Defense of Türkiye, Ismet Yilmaz visited Japan
2013 May: Minister of Environment and Urbanisation of Türkiye, Erdogan Bayraktar visited Japan
2013 May: Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe visited Türkiye
2013 October: Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe visited Türkiye (Marmaray Project Opening Ceremony)
2014 January: Prime Minister of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Japan
2014 April: HIH Princess Akiko of Japan visited Türkiye
2014 April: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Ahmet Davutoglu visited Japan (8th NPDI Hiroshima Foreign Ministers' Meeting)
2014 June: Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye for Co-operation in the use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes became effective
2014 July: Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Nobuo Kishi visited Türkiye
2014 July: Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, Yoshitaka Shindo visited Türkiye
2014 July: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Toshimitsu Motegi visited Türkiye
2014 October: Minister of Economy of Türkiye, Nihat Zeybekci visited Japan
2014 November: Minister of Education of Türkiye, Nabi Avci visited Japan (ESD UNESCO World Congress)
2015 February: Minister of Finance of Türkiye, Mehmet Simsek visited Japan
2015 February: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Japan, Taro Aso visited Türkiye (G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting)
2015 March: Deputy Prime Minister of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmus visited Japan (3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction)
2015 April: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Hakubun Shimomura visited Türkiye
2015 May: Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Yoshimasa Hayashi visited Türkiye (G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting)
2015 May: Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Akihiro Ohta visited Türkiye
2015 June: Speaker of Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Cemil Cicek visited Japan
2015 July: Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government to the Republic of Türkiye for Co-operation for Development of Nuclear Power Industry in the Republic of Türkiye became effective
2015 October: President of Türkiye, R. Tayyip Erdogan visited Japan
2015 November: Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of Japan, Taro Aso visited Türkiye (G20 Antalya Summit)
2016: University of Science and Technology Establishment Agreement was signed between Türkiye and Japan
2016 August: Deputy Prime Minister of Türkiye, Mehmet Simsek visited Japan
2016 September: Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting was held in New York
2016 September: Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs of Japan, Yosuke Tsuruho visited Türkiye
2016 October: Minister of Science, Industry and Technology of Türkiye, Faruk Ozlu visited Japan (STS Forum, International Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting)
2016 November: Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Türkiye, Mehmet Muezzinoglu visited Japan
2017 January: Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Keiichi Ishii visited Türkiye
2017 June: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Japan and Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Tokyo
2017 July: Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting was held in Hamburg
2017 December: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Kono visited Türkiye
2017 December: Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Singapore
2018 March: Minister of Economy of Türkiye, Nihat Zeybekci visited Japan
2018 April: Deputy Prime Minister of Türkiye, Recep Akdag visited Japan
2018 May: Chairman of the Japan-Türkiye Friendship Council, Toshihiro Nikai and Minister of State for Special Missions, Teru Fukui visited Türkiye
2018 July: Special Envoy of Prime Minister, Masahiro Imamura visited Türkiye
2018 August: Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Singapore
2018 September: HIH Princess Akiko visited Türkiye
2018 September: Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting was held in New York
2018 November: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlut Cavusoglu and Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy visited Japan
2018 December: Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting was held in Buenos Aires
2019 March: Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy visited Japan
2019 June: President of Türkiye, R. Tayyip Erdogan visited Japan
2019 October: Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy visited Japan
2019 November: Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Mustafa Sentop visited Japan
2019 November: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Japan (G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting)
2020 - Present
2020 April: Japan-Türkiye Summit Telephone Talk
2020 May: Prime Minister of Japan, Abe attending the opening ceremony of Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital
2020 September: Japan-Türkiye Summit Telephone Talk
2020 October: Japan-Türkiye Summit Telephone Talk
2021 July, August: Minister of Youth and Sports of Türkiye, Mehmet Kasapoğlu visited Japan
2021 August: Minister of foreign Affairs of Japan, Toshimitsu Motegi visited Türkiye
2021 September: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu visited Japan
2021 December: Japan-Türkiye Summit Telephone Talk
2022 March: Minister of foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoshimasa Hayashi visited Türkiye
2022 April: Japan-Türkiye Summit Telephone Talk
2022 September: Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
2022 September: Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting
2023 February: Japan-Türkiye Summit Telephone Talk
2023 March: Visit by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, YAMADA Kenji to Türkiye
2023 March: Attendance of State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, YAMADA Kenji, at a luncheon hosted by H.E. Mr. Güngen, Turkish Ambassador to Japan (March 22, 2023)
2023 April: Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
2023 June: State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. YAMADA Kenji (the special envoy of Prime Minister of Japan) attends the inauguration ceremony for the President of the Republic of Türkiye
2023 July: Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
2023 July: Courtesy Call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. YAMADA Kenji by Delegation from the Municipalities of Türkiye
2023 September: Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting
2023 December: Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting
2024 January: Minister of foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoko Kamikawa visited Türkiye
Sources:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
The Imperial Household Agency