125 Years Memory (2015) Plot Summary Explained

On the night of September 16, 1890, the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul was returning from a goodwill mission to Japan when it was struck by a powerful typhoon. The ship sank off the coast of Kushimoto, resulting in one of the era's most devastating maritime disasters, with over 500 crew members losing their lives. Upon hearing alarm bells, the residents of Kashino—a humble fishing village—rushed to the shoreline to find a tragic scene of death and destruction.

Despite their own extreme poverty, the villagers risked everything to save 69 surviving sailors. A local doctor, Motosada Tamura, and his assistant, Haru, worked tirelessly to treat the wounded. During these rescue efforts, Haru developed a deep, special bond with Mustafa, an officer aboard the frigate. The villagers, living in a small community of only 60 households, shared their meager food and provided shelter to these strangers from a land 9,000 kilometers away.

The story shifts to 1985 during the Iran–Iraq War. As Iraq threatened to shoot down any aircraft in Iranian airspace, over 300 Japanese citizens became stranded in Tehran. While other nations evacuated their people, the Japanese Ambassador, Yutaka Nomura, struggled to secure a quick rescue. Harumi, a teacher at the local Japanese school, urged Nomura to seek assistance from the Turkish government.

Responding to the crisis, Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Özal agreed to evacuate the Japanese nationals. On March 19, amidst heavy rocket fire in Tehran, a Turkish Airlines aircraft prepared for takeoff. To ensure the mission's success, embassy staff member Murat spoke passionately to his fellow Turkish citizens, reminding them of the compassion and sacrifice the Japanese villagers had shown Turkish sailors nearly a century prior.