11 History of Tatars in Japan - Japonyada Turklerin Tarihi
Episode 11
Turkish general visiting the wounded soldiers in Japan hospitals knew the help of Tatar community there and he appreciated it very much. General asked them how Turkey could reply to their kindness, and Tatars requested Turkish citizenship. This was welcome and all Tatars were given citizenship in 1953. After this, Tatars were able to move freely and they started to immigrate to Turkey, USA or other countries. As for the community left in Manchuria, there were very few families still there during 1949 takeover of Maoist China. Mao asked all the foreigners either to leave country or accept Chinese citizenship. Professor Devlet syas that .. those who accepted to stay in China had to go through difficult times later. So the adventure of Tatars in Far East ended in 1949. Some families took Turkish passports even during 1940, when Japan China war started. They fled to Turkey after very long journeys and started a new life. There were difficulties of language at the beginning but they were able to settle there soon. They had enough money as they sold everything they had before moving to Turkey. Japan, who has welcome all Turkic people in the past is home to very few Idil-Ural Tatar nowadays. Chairman of The Turkish Association Mr.Temimdar Muhit says that there are only 30 families, or 70 people in total who are still in Japan. They still are an important link between Turkey, Turkish culture and Japan. Turkish embassador to Japan, Mrs.Solmaz Unaydin, noted that Tatar community is still the best support to the embassy in Japan.
