Newsletter No. 1441
News-Analysis
August 27, 2009

 

ISTANBUL POLICE BUST IRAN-JAPAN DRUG RING

The Turkish media has been reporting about a case of some interest. Apparently the some elements of the yakuza crime networks in Japan have been partnering with Iranians to smuggle into Japan the illegal drug methamphetamine (often called “meth” in the USA or “shabu” in Japan). The Istanbul Police Department’s Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Bureau has been making arrests this month, including eight Iranians and four Japanese nationals.

The gist of the scheme seems to be that Japanese gangs are smuggling methamphetamine they bought from Iranian drug dealers into Japan, where the street value of these drugs is much higher than in West Asia. A report in Today’s Zaman says that the price of a methamphetamine tablet in Japan is approximately US$50, whereas in Turkey it is only about US$6. Turkey appears to be a major smuggling route between Iran and Japan.

In the recent busts, Turkish police seem to have been able to seize a total of about 850,000 methamphetamine tablets, which would have a street value in Japan of about US$42 million.

NEWS BRIEFS

The Foreign Ministers of Japan and Turkey held a twenty-minute phone call on May 29th. Aside from general issues of bilateral relations, they discussed issues related to the “Year of Japan in Turkey,” which will include exchange events next year.

Crown Prince Naruhito spent a week in Turkey this past March to attend a global conference on water management. Naruhito is said to take a keen interest in the World Water Forum and has attended its events for some years.

Hitachi, the Japanese electronics and home appliances manufacturer, has entered the Turkish market selling refrigerators. The company aims to open about fifty branches, particularly in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa, and sell its products in chain stores like Media Markt, Metro, and Carrefour. They are aiming to capture a 10% share in the Turkish refrigerator market within four years.

The Tsubaki Group, which dominates the Japanese market for industrial drive chains, attachment chains, and large-size conveyor chains, announced in October 2008 that they would make Turkey their base for West Asian sales.

Excavations at Kaman-Kalehoyuk, about a hundred kilometers southeast of Ankara, have been organized by the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan. In March, it was reported that these Japanese researchers believe that they have found evidence proving that the Iron Age began several centuries earlier than previously thought.

Emine Sari, a Hatay-born singer, has gained some popularity in Japan. She was a finalist in the “Best Singer of 2008” competition, belting out enka tunes. Sari commented: “I performed enka music in the competition; it was a big advantage for me. It is a difficult type of music—that’s why young Japanese people are not interested in it.” She continued: “My album, which was a present as a result of the competition, was really appreciated by the public and I made two more albums… I am working as an honorary cultural ambassador between Turkey and Japan. I want to establish a culture bridge between Turkey and Japan just like the late Baris Manco. The Japanese love me so much because I am a Turk. I try to promote Turkish art and melodies to them. I want to perform Turkish songs in Japanese and Japanese songs in Turkish in order to make both cultures closer. I am working to take the stage during the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture celebrations.”

Japanese Architect Kengo Kuma visited Istanbul in early April and expressed his appreciation of Turkish architecture: “[Istanbul] is one of the greatest cities in the world, but it is a pity that the characteristics of the traditional architecture are disappearing. People should respect the tradition of the city and maintain the density. If the character of the city disappears, no one can put it back. It would be too late.”

Japanese Taiko Drummers visited Istanbul in June. As part of their One Earth 2009 World Tour, the world-renowned Japanese drum group Kodo introduced this art form to Turkish audiences. The event was organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV).

The Sixth Japanese Film Festival was held in Istanbul in January at the Levent Cultural Center. The festival screened eleven Japanese films over four days in their original Japanese with subtitles in Turkish.