Introduction / History

Turkey and Japan have long enjoyed "friendly" or "almost friendly" relations. The countries have "rescued" one another in their hour of need. In 1890, a Turkish frigate sailed to Japan for a summer-long goodwill mission. Unfortunately, the ship met with an accident shortly at the end of the tour. The Japanese rescued and cared for the 70 survivors and erected a gravestone for the lost. In the 1980s, the Turks were able to return the favor when 215 Japanese nationals were stranded in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. Turkey sent an aircraft to rescue the Japanese and take them to Istanbul.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Since 2000, there has been a new wave of migration from Turkey to Japan. There are Turkish people from all walks of life—including actors and professional wrestlers—living in Japan, some of them naturalized. Today, there is a Turkish Cultural Center and a Turkey-Japan Cultural Dialog Society. Japanese doctor Atsushi Miyazaki flew to Turkey to assist the people, following a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in 2011. Tragically, Dr. Miyazaki's hotel collapsed during an aftershock. Several Turkish facilities were named in the doctor's honor.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Turks are nominally Sunni Muslim, believing in one god (Allah), and an eternal heaven and hell. "Sunni," is derived from the Islamic term, sunnah, which means "well-trodden path." Sunnis believe that the correct path is that of the majority. Therefore, the tradition of the Sunni is political conformism, though the Turks have been more flexible than many of their Muslim neighbors. Other Turks are more secular in their beliefs, though they visit the mosque for special events. Some also hold to pre-Islamic beliefs as well. For example, some believe that men have the power to curse others by giving them the "evil eye."

Prayer Points

Pray for God's abundant spiritual blessings on the Turks in Japan. Pray for the fervent believers to reach out in faith and love to the Muslim Turks among them. Pray for a spiritual hunger among Turks that will be satisfied by none other than the Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among Turks to spread far and wide throughout East Asia.

Scripture Prayers for the Turk in Japan.