Tekirdağ commemorates Ertuğrul Frigate sailors

A commemoration ceremony was held in the Ertuğrul neighborhood of Süleymanpaşa, Tekirdağ, to honor the sailors who perished on the Ertuğrul Frigate. The event took place at the Ertuğrul Frigate Monument, where Turkish and Japanese flags were displayed. Following a moment of silence and the national anthem, participants offered prayers for the deceased and released wreaths into the sea.

The Ertuğrul Frigate was sent by Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II in 1889 to Japan as a visit of friendship to Emperor Meiji. On its return journey from Yokohama on September 16, 1890, the ship struck rocks at Cape Kashinozaki during a severe storm and split in two. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 527 Ottoman sailors, while 69 crew members were rescued by Japanese fishermen. This act of assistance by the Japanese people is regarded as a foundational element of the friendship between the two nations. The ceremony included local officials, including the Governor of Tekirdağ and the Metropolitan Mayor, noting the historical significance of the event for bilateral relations.