Japanese-Turkish blockbuster 125 Years Memory still images

125 Years Memory · Background

Relations between Japan and Turkey, Asia's easternmost and westernmost nations, have a long history, with 2015 marking its 125th anniversary. This motion picture reflects those deep ties in the story of two actual historical incidents. In both cases people in a difficult situation were offered help, with no thought of reward, for the simple reason that they needed it. The courage and sincerity shown in these two real-life dramas now come to the screen in a large-scale Japanese-Turkish co-production.

The film comprises two episodes: The wrecking of the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul off the Japanese coast in 1890 and the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Iran in 1985. For his role as Tamura, the doctor who treats the shipwreck survivors, virtuoso actor Seiyo Uchino won the Japan Academy Film Prize as Excellent Actor in a Leading Role. Shooting star actress Shioli Kutsuna and Turkish TV and cinema idol Kenan Ece are both featured in the Ertuğrul episode as well as in the Tehran episode. Directing is Mitsutoshi Tanaka, whose 2014 motion picture «BLOSSOMS BLOOM» won the Awards for Best Director, Best Actress and Best Music at the Asia International Film Festival in Taipei. Japan's Creators' Union and Toei Studios have joined with Böcek Yapım, Turkey's premier production house, to produce a film of stunning visual images.

«125 YEARS MEMORY» was initiated by the residents of Kushimoto, a coastal town in Japan's Wakayama prefecture where the first episode of the film takes place. For a long time they wanted to share this story of friendship and compassion with the rest of the world and contribute to world peace by making a film about the Ertuğrul story. To pursue their goal, Kushimoto Mayor Katsumasa Tashima contacted film director Mitsutoshi Tanaka and the NPO «Ertuğrul Saves the World» was established in the city of Wakayama. The film's shooting took place in Kushimoto, on Awaji Island, at Toei Studios Kyoto, at Toei Studios Tokyo, in Istanbul and at Tekfen Antalya Film Studios. After more than ten years of work, «125 YEARS MEMORY» was released in Japan and Turkey in December 2015, commemorating the 125th anniversary of Japanese-Turkish friendship. Since that time «125 YEARS MEMORY» has been carrying its message of friendship and peace to audiences around the world.

   Kushimoto mayor Katsumasa Tashima and director Mitsutoshi Tanaka at 125 Years Memory film set
   Mayor Katsumasa Tashima and director Mitsutoshi Tanaka at the film set in Kushimoto

«125 YEARS MEMORY» received the VFX-JAPAN Award for Excellent Motion Picture and the Japan Academy Film Prize in ten categories, including Best Sound Recording, Best Art Direction, Excellent Film and Excellent Director.

Separated by 9,000 km, the people of Japan and Turkey have fostered deep ties of friendship. In a time when people all over the world are growing steadily more suspicious of other nations over politics, economics and religion, this is an epic of hope demonstrating how fellow-feeling between one person and another can bring about a miracle.

125 Years Memory still image with Seiyo Uchino and Shioli Kutsuna
125 Years Memory still images with Seiyo Uchino, Kenan Ece and Shioli Kutsuna 125 Years Memory still images with Ertugrul frigate and Minister of Transport Veysel Atasoy played by Ayhan Isik 125 Years Memory still images with Akane Owaki and Can Akalin 125 Years Memory still images with Yui Natsukawa, Ayumi Takano and Takayuki Takuma 125 Years Memory still images with Seiyo Uchino, Shioli Kutsuna and Hakki Haluk Comert 125 Years Memory still images with Yui Natsukawa and Naoto Takenaka 125 Years Memory still images with Momoko Kato, Natsuka Ogawa ve Mika Kitajma 125 Years Memory still images with Alican Yucesoy, Oguz Oztekin and Yagiz Elmastasoglu 125 Years Memory still images with Ayami Nakamura and Chiyo Takahashi

125 Years Memory · Story

In 1890, Dr. Tamura (Seiyo Uchino)'s kindness in caring for his patients is winning him the trust of Kashino, a poor village on Kushimoto's Kii Oshima island in Wakayama prefecture. Assisting him is Haru (Shioli Kutsuna), who the shock of losing her fiancé to drowning has left mute. In the night of 16 September of that year the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul, on its way home from Yokohama to Istanbul, is driven aground in a typhoon and wrecked in the Pacific Ocean off Cape Kashino. Hearing the alarm bell that warns of a vessel in distress, the villagers rush to the shore. They are confronted with the grisly spectacle of vast numbers of dead and dying. With more than 500 crew members dead, it is one of the largest sea accidents in history at that time. Risking their own lives, the villagers rescue who they can, while Tamura and Haru go to work treating the injured. The next morning, there are 69 survivors. In the wake of her life rescuing efforts Haru builds a special bond with Mustafa (Kenan Ece), 2nd engineering officer on the Ertuğrul frigate. Although being very poor and having hardly to eat, the locals share what little they have with strangers from a country 9,000 kilometres away and give them shelter in their small village of only 60 households.
[Led by Torajiro Yamada, a businessman and tea master from Gunma, donation campaigns for the Turkish crew start all over Japan. Yamada, who is also to be known as Abdülhalil Pasha, is to lay the foundation of Japanese-Turkish relations.]

95 years later, in 1985 during the Iran-Iraq war, Turkish embassy official Murat (Kenan Ece) encounters Harumi (Shioli Kutsuna), a teacher at the Tehran Japanese School, during a bombing raid in Tehran. On 17 March Iraq announces that in 48 hours it will start an indiscriminate attack and shoot down any aircraft over Iranian air space. Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Nomura (Toshiyuki Nagashima) requests rescue flights from Japan, but is told that a quick response is not possible. Meanwhile rescue flights from other nations are arriving, leaving only the Japanese stranded. Harumi wants to save her students and prevails upon Nomura to ask the Turkish embassy for help. Out of gratitude for the rescue of Turkish sailors in 1890, Turkish Prime Minister Özal (Deniz Oral) decides to evacuate the over 300 Japanese. In the morning of 19 March a Turkish Airlines aircraft takes off for Tehran. But not only is Tehran already under heavy rocket fire. By now Tehran Mehrabad Airport is full of Turks trying to find a flight to safety. They still need to be convinced that they won't be able to board their own country's evacuation flight. Kimura (Takayuki Takuma), an automotive engineer posted to Tehran, and the other Japanese have all but given up hope of getting onto the last flight. That's when Murat starts speaking out to his fellow citizens about the compassion and sacrifice Japanese villagers had shown to Turkish sailors shipwrecked far away a long time ago.



125 Years Memory · Cast


Seiyo Uchino starring in 125 Years Memory as Motosada Tamura, a doctor in Kushimoto (formerly known as Masaaki Uchino)
SEIYO UCHINO（内野聖陽）
Motosada Tamura
A doctor living in Kashino, a village on Kushimoto's Kii Oshima island in Wakayama prefecture. Originally a samurai of the Kishu Domain, he is thus a skilled swordsman. A friend of many years to naval officer Fujimoto. He provides free medical care to the residents of this poor fishing village who are as a result very fond of him. He speaks good English and is well versed in world affairs.

Kenan Ece starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate officer Mustafa and Turkish embassy staff Murat (aka Kenan Cahit Ece)
KENAN ECE
Mustafa
A Lieutenant on the Ertuğrul frigate. He is the son of a prominent family whose father was a senior officer with the Turkish Naval Forces.
Murat
Staff member of the Turkish embassy in Tehran. He encounters Harumi after Tehran is attacked and throws himself into helping with the evacuation of the Japanese.

Shioli Kutsuna starring in 125 Years Memory as Haru in Kushimoto and Harumi in Tehran (also spelled as Shiori Kutsuna)
SHIOLI KUTSUNA（忽那汐里）
Haru
A woman from the village of Kashino in Kushimoto. Left mute from the shock of her fiancé's death by drowning. She serves Tamura as his assistant.
Harumi
A teacher at the Tehran Japanese School. She is trying to save her students and goes to the Japanese embassy for help in evacuating Japanese nationals.
Alican Yucesoy starring in 125 Years Memory as Bekir, an officer on the Ertugrul frigate
ALİCAN YÜCESOY
Bekir
A non-commissioned officer in charge of the Ertuğrul boiler room. Highly respected by his men. He is also a skilled wrestler who bonds with Mustafa after the two of them fight to a draw. His wife has a son while he is at sea and he is eagerly anticipating his return home.

Yui Natsukawa starring in 125 Years Memory as Yuki, a courtesan in Kushimoto (real name Miki Miyagawa)
YUI NATSUKAWA（夏川結衣）
 Yuki, a third generation courtesan in the brothel on Kii Oshima island
Toshiyuki Nagashima starring in 125 Years Memory as Japanese ambassador Yutaka Nomura
TOSHIYUKI NAGASHIMA（永島敏行）
 The Japanese Ambassador to Iran Yutaka Nomura, searches desperately for a way to evacuate the Japanese stranded in Tehran
Naoto Takenaka starring in 125 Years Memory as Kudo, a doctor in Kushimoto
NAOTO TAKENAKA（竹中直人）
 Kudo, a doctor on Kii Oshima island

Takashi Sasano starring in 125 Years Memory as Kii Oshima Mayor Sato
TAKASHI SASANO（笹野高史）
 Kii Oshima Mayor Sato, devotes himself to organising the islanders' response to the shipwreck
Shunsuke Daitoh starring in 125 Years Memory as Shintaro, a fisherman from Kii Oshima (real name Kousuke Daitoh)
SHUNSUKE DAITOH（大東駿介）
 Tae's husband Shintaro, a fisherman from Kushimoto's Kii Oshima island
Ayako Kobayashi starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident Tome
AYAKO KOBAYASHI（小林綾子）
 Heiji's wife Tome, a villager from Kashino on Kushimoto's Kii Oshima island

Yukiyoshi Ozawa starring in 125 Years Memory as Japanese officer Gentaro Fujimoto
YUKIYOSHI OZAWA（小澤征悦）
 Tamura's friend Gentaro Fujimoto, a naval officer
Takayuki Takuma starring in 125 Years Memory as Kimura
TAKAYUKI TAKUMA（宅間孝行）
 Kimura, an engineer who lives in Tehran
Gota Watabe starring in 125 Years Memory as Shinichi, a fisherman in Kushimoto
GOTA WATABE（渡部豪太）
 Shintaro's childhood friend Shinichi, a fisherman

Yuu Tokui starring in 125 Years Memory as Heiji, a resident of Kashino in Kushimoto (also spelled as Yu Tokui)
YUU TOKUI（徳井 優）
 Tome's husband Heiji, a villager from Kashino
Yukijiro Hotaru starring in 125 Years Memory as Takeshita, principal of the Tehran Japanese School
YUKIJIRO HOTARU（螢雪次朗）
 Takeshita, principal of the Tehran Japanese School
Rino Katase starring in 125 Years Memory as Sato (real name Noriko Sugita)
RINO KATASE（かたせ梨乃）
 Sato, madam of the brothel on Kii Oshima island

Naoki Kawano starring in 125 Years Memory as Mankichi, a fisherman in Kushimoto
NAOKI KAWANO（川野直輝）
 Shintaro and Shinichi's friend Mankichi, a fisherman from Kushimoto's Kii Oshima island
Mehmet Ozgur starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate captain Ali Bey (also spelled as Mehmet Özgür)
MEHMET ÖZGÜR
 Captain of the Ertuğrul frigate Âli Bey, a Lieutenant Colonel of the Turkish Naval Forces
Hitomi Miwa starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident Katsu
HITOMI MIWA（三輪ひとみ）
 Nobu's friend Katsu, a villager from Kashino on Kushimoto's Kii Oshima island

Ugur Polat starring in 125 Years Memory as Osman Pasha, commander of the Ertuğrul frigate (also spelled as Uğur Polat)
UĞUR POLAT
 Major General of the Turkish Naval Forces Osman Pasha, commanding officer of the Ertuğrul frigate, empowered to represent Sultan Abdülhamid II
Tomoko Saito starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident Nobu
TOMOKO SAITO（斉藤とも子）
 Katsu's friend Nobu, a villager from Kashino
Melis Babadag starring in 125 Years Memory as Hatice (also spelled as Melis Babadağ)
MELİS BABADAĞ
 Bekir's wife Hatice, waiting for his return home

Nobue Iketani starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident Kiyo
NOBUE IKETANI（池谷のぶえ）
 Takeo's wife Kiyo, a villager from Kashino
Ayumi Takano starring in 125 Years Memory as Michi Kimura
AYUMI TAKANO（高野あゆ美）
 Kimura's wife Michi, a resident of Tehran
Japanese actor and musician Minosuke starring in 125 Years Memory as Takeo, a resident of Kashino in Kushimoto
MINOSUKE（みのすけ）
 Kiyo's husband Takeo, a villager from Kashino

Deniz Oral starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal
DENİZ ORAL
 Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Özal, puts his political career at risk by deciding to evacuate the Japanese stranded in Tehran
Noboru Kaneko starring in 125 Years Memory as Yamamoto
NOBORU KANEKO（金子 昇）
 The Japanese ambassador's secretary Yamamoto
Hakki Haluk Comert starring in 125 Years Memory as Mahmut (also spelled as Hakkı Haluk Cömert)
HAKKI HALUK CÖMERT
 Mahmut, a Turkish national who lives in Tehran

Yuuki Tsujimoto starring in 125 Years Memory as Yano (also spelled as Yuki Tsujimoto)
YUUKI TSUJIMOTO（辻本祐樹）
 Yano, an engineer working in Iran
Cem Cucenoglu starring in 125 Years Memory as Naci, an Ertugrul frigate musician (also spelled as Cem Cücenoğlu)
CEM CÜCENOĞLU
 Naci, a musician on the Ertuğrul frigate
Toshie Takada starring in 125 Years Memory as Miyamoto
TOSHIE TAKADA（高田敏江）
 Miyamoto, a former resident of Iran

Mert Aygun starring in 125 Years Memory as Ali Efendi, an imam on the Ertugrul frigate (also spelled as Mert Aygün)
MERT AYGÜN
 Ali Efendi, imam on the Ertuğrul frigate
Koichi Ueda starring in 125 Years Memory as Kashino village elder Fukushima
KOICHI UEDA（上田耕一）
 Fukushima, Village Elder of Kashino
Tamer Levent starring in 125 Years Memory as Suleyman Bey
TAMER LEVENT
 Mustafa's father Süleyman Bey

Kenichiro Yasui starring in 125 Years Memory as a Japanese diplomat (originally spelled as Kenichirou Yasui)
KENICHIRO YASUI（安居剣一郎）
 A diplomat at the Japanese embassy in Tehran
Duygu Sarisin starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish Airlines ground staff member (also spelled as Duygu Sarışın)
DUYGU SARIŞIN
 Turkish Airlines ground staff in Tehran
Minami Kajihara starring in 125 Years Memory as Tae, a resident of Kushimoto
MINAMI KAJIHARA（梶原みなみ）
 Shintaro's wife Tae, a villager from Kashino

Pinar Alcinkaya starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish national in Tehran (also spelled as Pınar Alçınkaya)
PINAR ALÇINKAYA
 Mahmut's wife, a Tehran resident
Halit Mizrakli starring as in 125 Years Memory Selim, a sailor on the Ertugrul frigate (aka rakugo artist Harito Warattei)
HALİT MIZRAKLI（我楽亭ハリト）
 Selim, a sailor on the Ertuğrul frigate
Alper Duzen starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish Undersecretary of Transport Ihsan Pekel (also spelled as Alper Düzen)
ALPER DÜZEN
 Undersecretary of Transport İhsan Pekel

Sato Higashi starring in 125 Years Memory as a Biwa artist in Kushimoto
SATO HIGASHI（東さと）
 A biwa artist in the brothel on Kii Oshima island
Ayhan Isik starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish Minister of Transport Veysel Atasoy (also spelled as Ayhan Işık)
AYHAN IŞIK
 Minister of Transport Veysel Atasoy
Chiyo Takahashi starring in 125 Years Memory as courtesan in Kushimoto
CHIYO TAKAHASHI（髙橋知代）
 A courtesan in the brothel on Kii Oshima island

Oguz Okul starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish bureaucrat (also spelled as Oǧuz Okul)
OĞUZ OKUL
 A bureaucrat at the Prime Minister's office
Akane Owaki starring in 125 Years Memory as courtesan in Kushimoto (aka Can Akalin)
AKANE OWAKI（大脇あかね）
 A courtesan in the brothel on Kii Oshima island
Can Senturk starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish Airlines ground staff member (also spelled as Can Şentürk)
CAN ŞENTÜRK
 Turkish Airlines ground staff in Tehran

Ayami Nakamura starring in 125 Years Memory as courtesan in Kushimoto
AYAMI NAKAMURA（中村彩実）
 A courtesan in Kushimoto's Kii Oshima island
Eray Ayaz starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish child in Tehran
ERAY AYAZ
 Mahmut's son Can
Natsuka Ogawa starring in 125 Years Memory as Japanese in Tehran
NATSUKA OGAWA（小川夏果）
 A Japanese national at Tehran Mehrabad Airport

Erkan Pekbay starring in 125 Years Memory as Sarkis, a sailor on the Ertugrul frigate
ERKAN PEKBAY
 Boiler room staff on the Ertuğrul frigate Sarkis
Momoko Kato starring in 125 Years Memory as Japanese in Tehran
MOMOKO KATO（加藤桃子）
 A Japanese national at Tehran Mehrabad Airport
Savas Satis starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate sailor (also spelled as Savaş Satış)
SAVAŞ SATIŞ
 A sailor on the Ertuğrul frigate

Mika Kitajima starring in 125 Years Memory as Japanese in Tehran
MIKA KITAJIMA（北島美香）
 A Japanese national at Tehran Mehrabad Airport
Ali Acikbas starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate sailor (also spelled as Ali Açıkbaş)
ALİ AÇIKBAŞ
 A sailor on the Ertuğrul frigate
Shingo Koike starring in 125 Years Memory as Naoki Agata, a teacher at the Tehran Japanese School
SHINGO KOIKE（小池真護）
 Naoki Agata, a teacher at Tehran Japanese School

Sedat Ali Erdinc starring in 125 Years Memory as an Ertugrul frigate officer (also spelled as Sedat Ali Erdinç)
SEDAT ALİ ERDİNÇ
 An officer of the Turkish Naval Forces
Ruka Wakabayashi starring in 125 Years Memory as Hiroyuki Kimura
RUKA WAKABAYASHI（若林瑠海）
 Kimura's son Hiroyuki, a student of Harumi
Bertan Dirikolu starring in 125 Years Memory as an Ertugrul frigate officer
BERTAN DİRİKOLU
 An officer of the Turkish Naval Forces

Takashi Noguchi starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto village elder
TAKASHI NOGUCHI（野口貴史）
 A Village Elder of Kashino
Yagiz Elmastasoglu starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate sailor (also spelled as Yağız Elmastaşoğlu)
YAĞIZ ELMASTAŞOĞLU
 Salih, a sailor on the Ertuğrul frigate
Ryuji Komine starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto village elder
RYUJI KOMINE（小峰隆司）
 A Village Elder of Kashino

Oguz Oztekin starring in 125 Years Memory as an Ertugrul frigate musician (also spelled as Oğuz Öztekin)
OĞUZ ÖZTEKİN
 Hayri, a musician on the Ertuğrul frigate
Chikara Honda starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident
CHIKARA HONDA（本多 力）
 A villager from Kushimoto
Onur Sarialtin starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate sailor (also spelled as Onur Sarıaltın)
ONUR SARIALTIN
 A sailor on the Ertuğrul frigate

Munenori Nagano starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident
MUNENORI NAGANO（永野宗典）
 A villager from Kushimoto
Aras Kosedag starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate sailor (also spelled as Aras Kösedağ)
ARAS KÖSEDAĞ
 A sailor on the Ertuğrul frigate
Marie Kobayashi starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident
MARIE KOBAYASHI（小林茉利江）
 A villager from Kashino

Egemen Beser starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate sailor (also spelled as Egemen Beşer)
EGEMEN BEŞER
 A sailor on the Ertuğrul frigate
Kinari Tsujimoto starring in 125 Years Memory as child in Kushimoto
KINARI TSUJIMOTO（辻元きなり）
 A girl living in Kushimoto's Kashino village
Gorkem Mertsoz starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate officer (also spelled as Görkem Mertsöz)
GÖRKEM MERTSÖZ
 An officer of the Turkish Naval Forces

Kenzo Ryu starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident
KENZO RYU（笠 兼三）
 Kii Oshima Mayor Sato's aide
Sabri Memi starring in 125 Years Memory as Ertugrul frigate sailor
SABRİ MEMİ
 An officer of the Turkish Naval Forces
Man Kato starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident
MAN KATO（加藤 満）
 Nobu's husband, a villager from Kashino

Masataka Kobayashi starring in 125 Years Memory as Japanese embassy staff
MASATAKA KOBAYASHI（小林正貴）
 Staff member of the Japanese embassy in Tehran
Emiko Miyazaki starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident
EMIKO MIYAZAKI（宮崎恵美子）
 A villager from Kashino
Murat Serezli starring in 125 Years Memory as Turkish Airlines official
MURAT SEREZLİ
 A Turkish Airlines official

Tsuto Kawai starring in 125 Years Memory as Japanese in Tehran
TSUTO KAWAI（川井つと）
 A Japanese national at Tehran Mehrabad Airport
Yuusaku Tanaka starring in 125 Years Memory as Yoshimoto, a doctor in Kushimoto
YUUSAKU TANAKA（田中雄策）
 Yoshimoto, a doctor in Kushimoto's Kashino village
Rakugo artist Shunchou Katsura starring in 125 Years Memory as Kushimoto resident
SHUNCHOU KATSURA（桂 春蝶）
 A villager from Kashino


NPO Ertugrul Saves the World members at 125 Years Memory film set in Kushimoto with Fujio Shimamura, Tomoki Nakamura, Can Akalin, Kirk Kiyoharu Ura, Shinji Nishihiro, Midori Shimamura, Tatsuko Wanibuchi, Mutsuko Azuma Members of Wakayama-based NPO Ertuğrul Saves the World at the film set in Kushimoto



RESIDENTS OF KUSHIMOTO
 Residents of Kushimoto town and Wakayama prefecture, who also initiated «125 YEARS MEMORY», participate in their film with more than 200 people by playing their great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers, who selflessly saved Turkish sailors 125 years ago.



125 Years Memory · Crew



125 Years Memory film team in Kushimoto with Tatsuko Wanibuchi, Can Akalin, Minako Yamanishi, Kirk Kiyoharu Ura, Emi Sugimoto, Norihiko Wakutani, Hirofumi Tomita, Akane Owaki, Ayami Nakamura, Chiyo Takahashi       125 Years Memory film team in Istanbul with Tatsuko Wanibuchi, Can Akalin, Elif Tomoko Kushi, Kirk Kiyoharu Ura, Keitaro Sugiyama, Shougun Ogasawara, Ryusuke Asao, Mutsuko Azuma, Momoko Kato, Natsuka Ogawa



Eriko Komatsu [125 Years Memory] script writer ―Screenplay―
ERIKO KOMATSU（小松江里子）

Michiru Oshima [125 Years Memory] film music composer ―Music―
MICHIRU OSHIMA（大島ミチル）

Mika Toyoda [125 Years Memory] novelist, aka [Kainan 1890] ―Novel―
MIKA TOYODA（豊田美加）


Tetsuo Nagata [125 Years Memory] cinematographer ―Photography―
TETSUO NAGATA（永田鉄男）

Masahiro Aida [125 Years Memory] camera operator ―Camera―
MASAHIRO AIDA（会田正裕）

Akimasa Kawashima [125 Years Memory] film editor ―Editing―
AKIMASA KAWASHIMA（川島章正）


Sisyu [125 Years Memory] title calligraphy artist ―Calligraphy―
SISYU（紫舟）

Jotaro Saito [125 Years Memory] kimono designer ―Kimono―
JOTARO SAITO（斉藤上太郎）

Gamze Kus [125 Years Memory] costume designer (also spelled as Gamze Kuş) ―Costume―
GAMZE KUŞ


Hiroshi Butsuda [125 Years Memory] special effects ―Special Effects―
HIROSHI BUTSUDA（佛田 洋）

Koichi Noguchi [125 Years Memory] VFX (visual effects) supervisor ―Visual Effects―
KOICHI NOGUCHI（野口光一）

Masaaki Kamada [125 Years Memory] VFX (visual effects) director ―Visual Effects―
MASAAKI KAMADA（鎌田匡晃）


Nobuhiko Matsukage [125 Years Memory] sound recording and supervision ―Sound Supervision―
NOBUHIKO MATSUKAGE（松陰信彦）

Kenji Shibasaki [125 Years Memory] sound designer ―Sound Design―
KENJI SHIBASAKI（柴崎憲治）

Hidefumi Hanatani [125 Years Memory] production designer and art director ―Production Design―
HIDEFUMI HANATANI（花谷秀文）


Midori Yamashita [125 Years Memory] makeup artist ―Makeup―
MIDORI YAMASHITA（山下みどり）

Kiyoto Ando [125 Years Memory] lighting director ―Lighting―
KIYOTO ANDO（安藤清人）

Kazumi Matsuzawa [125 Years Memory] script supervisor (sometimes spelled as Kazumi Matuzawa) ―Script Supervision―
KAZUMI MATSUZAWA（松澤一美）


Aziz Senol Filiz [125 Years Memory] ney artist (neyzen) ―Neyzen―
AZİZ ŞENOL FİLİZ

Alexander Polianichko [125 Years Memory] orchestra conductor with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra (sometimes spelled as Alexander Polyanichko) ―Conductor―
ALEXANDER POLIANICHKO

(Александр Поляничко)

Marina Dubovskova [125 Years Memory] orchestra manager with Mosfilm Tone Studio Moscow ―Orchestra Manager―
MARINA DUBOVSKOVA

(Марина Дубовскова)


Alexander Volkov [125 Years Memory] recording engineer with Mosfilm Tone Studio Moscow ―Recording―
ALEXANDER VOLKOV

(Александр Волков)

Denis Caribaux [125 Years Memory] mixing engineer with Studio Guillaume Tell Suresnes ―Mixing―
DENIS CARIBAUX

Ramazan Kubat singing [125 Years Memory] theme song Ertugrul Turkusu with Takahisa Suda and Can Akalin ―Theme Song―
KUBAT


Sato Higashi [125 Years Memory] dialect consultant and biwa artist ―Dialect Consulting―
SATO HIGASHI（東さと）

Kinsyu Wakayagi [125 Years Memory] choreographer ―Choreography―
KINSYU WAKAYAGI（若柳錦秀）

Akira Nakamoto [125 Years Memory] Japanese music coordinator ―Music Coordination―
AKIRA NAKAMOTO（中本 哲）


Julien Bachelier [125 Years Memory] DIT (digital image technician) ―Digital Imaging―
JULIEN BACHELIER

Takumi Hirano [125 Years Memory] underwater camera ―Underwater Photography―
TAKUMI HIRANO（平野拓身）

Masakazu Akagi [125 Years Memory] underwater camera operator ―Underwater Camera―
MASAKAZU AKAGI（赤木正和）




―Director―
MITSUTOSHI TANAKA

（田中光敏）

Mitsutoshi Tanaka at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival 125 Years Memory screening

Born 1958 in Hokkaido, film and commercial director Mitsutoshi Tanaka graduated from the Osaka University of Arts Department of Visual Concept Planning. After working with Dentsu Eigasha and TV Man Union, he established Osaka-based film production firm Creators' Union in 1984 and has served as the company's President and CEO since that time. Tanaka was appointed Dean of the Osaka University of Arts Department of Visual Concept Planning in 2022 where he has been teaching as a Professor since 2014. He has been a Visiting Fellow with the Wakayama University Center for Tourism Research since 2017.

As a commercial director he has been working in various areas such as promotional videos, TV commercials and music videos and has received many awards, including the All Japan Radio & Television Commercial Confederation Award, the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Award and the Japan Industrial Film Competition Prize. His works include tourism promotion videos for Mihama Municipality, TV commercials for Honda Motor and music videos for Yi-Fang Wu. He has directed several TV dramas, most notably the 1993 Japanese-Chinese co-production «THE LAND OF THE THREE KINGDOMS» for TV Osaka.

His first theatrical feature «KEWAISHI» was released in 2001. The period drama was an official selection at the Shanghai International Film Festival and won the Award for Best Screenplay at the Tokyo International Film Festival. He became widely known for award-winning works such as «GODAI - THE WUNDERKIND» (2020), «125 YEARS MEMORY» (2015), «BLOSSOMS BLOOM» (2014), «ASK THIS OF RIKYU» (2013) and «CASTLE UNDER FIERY SKIES» (2009). He has received numerous awards, including the Kinema Junpo Best Ten Readers' Choice Award as Best Director for his film «GODAI - THE WUNDERKIND», the Japan Academy Film Prize as Excellent Director for «125 YEARS MEMORY» and the Best Director Award at the Asia International Film Festival in Taipei for «BLOSSOMS BLOOM».

Director Mitsutoshi Tanaka was appointed as Tourism Ambassador of his hometown Urakawa, Hokkaido in 2010, Honorary Director of the Turkish Museum in Kushimoto, Wakayama in 2016 and Tourism Ambassador of Awara, Fukui in 2017. In 2016 he received the Governor's Award of Wakayama Prefecture and the Mayor's Award of Kushimoto Municipality.

Feature films:
2001: «KEWAISHI» (化粧師)
～Period drama based on a manga by Shotaro Ishinomori～
Official selection at the 5th Shanghai International Film Festival・ Best Screenplay Award (Yoshi Yokota) at the 14th Tokyo International Film Festival
2003: «THE BOAT TO HEAVEN» (精霊流し)
～Adaptation of Masashi Sada's autobiographical novel of the same name～
21st Japanese Cinema Reconstruction and Promotion Award・46th Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor (Taro Yamamoto)
2009: «CASTLE UNDER FIERY SKIES» (火天の城)
～Period drama based on Kenichi Yamamoto's historical novel of the same name～
33rd Japan Academy Film Prize for Excellent Art Direction (Yoshinobu Nishioka, Takashi Yoshida)
2013: «ASK THIS OF RIKYU» (利休にたずねよ)
～Period drama based on Kenichi Yamamoto's award-winning novel of the same name～
Best Director Award at the 2014 Osaka Cinema Festival・Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 37th Montréal World Film Festival・30th Fumiko Yamaji Cultural Award・37th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Art Direction (Takashi Yoshida), Excellent Film, Excellent Leading Actor (Ebizo Ichikawa), Excellent Supporting Actress (Miki Nakatami), Excellent Music (Taro Iwashiro), Excellent Cinematography (Takeshi Hamada), Excellent Editing (Kazunobu Fujita), Excellent Sound Recording (Nobuhiko Matsukage), Excellent Lighting (Kiyoto Ando)
2014: «BLOSSOMS BLOOM» (サクラサク)
～Family drama based on Masashi Sada's short story of the same name～
Official selection at the 38th Montréal World Film Festival・Awards for Best Director, Best Actress (Kaho Minami), Best Music (Masashi Sada) at the 1st Asia International Film Festival in Taipei
2015: «125 YEARS MEMORY» (海難１８９０)
～A call for world peace based on two historical events～
Canadian premiere screening at the 2016 Toronto Japanese Film Festival・VFX-JAPAN Award 2017 for Excellent Motion Picture (Masaaki Kamada)・39th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Sound Recording (Nobuhiko Matsukage), Best Art Direction (Hidefumi Hanatani), Excellent Film, Excellent Director, Excellent Leading Actor (Seiyo Uchino), Excellent Screenplay (Eriko Komatsu), Excellent Music (Michiru Oshima), Excellent Cinematography (Tetsuo Nagata), Excellent Editing (Akimasa Kawashima), Excellent Lighting (Kiyoto Ando)
2020: «GODAI - THE WUNDERKIND» (天外者)
～Biographical story of Tomoatsu Godai, the influential entrepreneur of the Meiji era～
Official selection at the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival・13th Tokyo Shimbun Film Award・94th Kinema Junpo Best Ten Readers' Choice Award for Best Film, Best Director・34th Nikkan Sports Yujiro Ishihara Film Prize Fans' Choice Award for Best Film, Best Actor (Haruma Miura)



125 Years Memory poster with Ertugrul frigate sinking off Kushimoto











125 Years Memory · Trailer





125 YEARS MEMORY trailer


Watch this trailer on
125 Years Memory official trailer with English subtitles     125 Years Memory official trailer with English subtitles

Ertugrul frigate excavation in Kashinozaki by Masakazu Akagi, Tufan Turanli, Berta Lledo and Can Akalin

[海難１８９０] [Ertuğrul 1890] [125 Years Memory] [Kainan 1890] [Кораблекрушение 1890] [해난 1890] [海难1890] [Ərtoğrul 1890] [1890 أرطغرل]