Making a statement regarding the exhibition, Alanya Mayor Hasan Sipahioğlu stated that the Turkish-Japanese friendship, which originated from the disaster 120 years ago when the Ertuğrul Frigate sank and many Turkish sailors lost their lives, is developing rapidly.
Expressing that as the Turkish people, they feel great gratitude toward the Japanese people who, under the conditions of that day, took care of the martyred and wounded Turkish sailors and soldiers; respected their wounded and martyrs; and have kept their memory alive until today, the Mayor said, “The friendship between the peoples of the two countries, which began with the Ertuğrul disaster, alleviates these pains, even if only slightly. The exhibition, consisting of Ertuğrul Frigate findings and serving as a beautiful example of Turkish maritime history and Turkish-Japanese friendship, will be held in Kızılkule, which was built during the Seljuk period and is referred to as “Sultan of the Two Seas” in the inscription of the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat. The exhibition is also significant in terms of both demonstrating the importance the Seljuks placed on Turkish maritime affairs and contributing to the activities carried out to develop Turkish-Japanese friendship. Through the exhibitions to be held in Japan and Alanya, the promotion of Kushimoto and Alanya will be ensured, which will also benefit the mutual development of the cultural tourism of the two cities. In this exhibition, held as part of the events celebrating the 120th anniversary of the friendship between the two countries, pieces unearthed during the three-year excavation will be exhibited.”