125 Years Memory is a 2015 drama film directed by and written by. A Japanese-Turkish co-production, the film was produced by Japan's Creators' Union and Toei Company together with Turkey's Böcek Yapım. It was released in Japan by Toei Company on December 5, 2015, and in Turkey by CGV Mars on December 25, 2015. Two historical incidents that deepened the friendship between Japan and Turkey are connected in this story of friendship and compassion: The sinking of the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul off the Japanese coast in 1890, and the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Iran in 1985. It received the Japan Academy Film Prize in ten categories, including Best Art Direction, Best Sound Recording, Excellent Film and Excellent Director.
In the year 1890, while returning from a goodwill visit to Japan, the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul encounters a typhoon off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture and sinks in the night of 16 September. With more than 500 crew members dead, it is the largest sea accident in history at that time. 69 sailors are rescued and treated by the villagers on the nearby island of Kii Ōshima. Although being very poor and having hardly to eat, the villagers share what little they have with strangers from a country 9,000 kilometers away.
Tehran episode
In the year 1985, during the height of the Iran–Iraq War, Japanese nationals are stranded in Iran when Iraqi president Saddam Hussein announces that in 48 hours his country will start an indiscriminate attack and shoot down any aircraft over Iranian air space. In the morning of 19 March, Turkish prime ministerTurgut Özal sends a Turkish Airlines plane to evacuate the over 300 remaining Japanese nationals. Not only are there only a few hours remaining until Iraq's ultimatum expires, and Tehran is already under heavy rocket fire. But the remaining Turks at Tehran Mehrabad International Airport still need to be convinced that they won't be able to board their own country's evacuation flight.
Background
The film was initiated by the residents of Kushimoto, a coastal town in Wakayama Prefecture where the first episode of the film takes place. For a very long time they wanted to make a film about the Ertuğrul story and thus send a message of friendship and peace to the rest of the world. To pursue their goal, Kushimoto mayor Katsumasa Tashima contacted film directorMitsutoshi Tanaka and the NPO Ertuğrul Saves the World was established in the city of Wakayama. After more than ten years of work the film was completed in 2015.
On its opening weekend in Japan, the film was fourth in both admissions, with 88,295, and gross, with. On its second weekend, it dropped to seventh, again both in admissions and in gross, with. On its third weekend, it was tenth placed in both admissions and gross, with. The film grossed in Japan and in Turkey.
