Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

125 Years Memory (2015) movie poster

Timeline

125 Years Memory (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 132 mins · Japanese
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Mitsutoshi Tanaka
Starring
Tamer Levent, Naoto Takenaka, Takashi Sasano, Yui Natsukawa, Nobue Iketani, Rino Katase

This film explores the enduring bond between Japan and Turkey through two significant historical events. In 1890, a typhoon struck off the Japanese coast, sinking the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul. Local villagers bravely rescued 69 Turkish sailors, sharing their meager resources with the strangers. Nearly a century later, during the Iran-Iraq War, over 300 Japanese citizens found themselves stranded in Tehran. A Turkish Airlines flight then evacuated the Japanese, demonstrating a continued spirit of mutual support and compassion across cultures and generations.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

15 events in order · contains spoilers

125 Years Memory Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of 125 Years Memory (2015) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. The Ertuğrul sinks in a typhoon

    On the night of 16 September 1890, the Turkish frigate Ertuğrul is caught in a violent typhoon while returning from a goodwill visit to Japan. The ship sinks in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Kushimoto, Wakayama. It becomes one of the largest sea accidents in history at that time, with more than 500 crew members losing their lives.

    When
    Night of 16 September 1890
    Where
    Pacific Ocean off Kushimoto, Wakayama
  2. Villagers rush to the shore

    Hearing an alarm bell, the villagers of Kashino, a poor fishing village on Kushimoto's island of Kii Oshima, rush to the shore. They are confronted with a grisly spectacle of vast numbers of dead and dying sailors washed ashore. Despite the horror of the scene, the villagers immediately begin organizing rescue efforts.

    When
    Night of 16 September 1890
    Where
    Kashino, Kii Oshima
  3. The villagers rescue 69 sailors

    Risking their own lives, the villagers of Kashino manage to pull 69 Turkish sailors from the deadly waters. Their brave efforts save a small remnant of the Ertuğrul's crew from the catastrophe that claimed over 500 lives. The rescue is carried out despite the dangerous conditions along the storm-battered coast.

    Where
    Shore of Kashino, Kii Oshima
  4. The injured are treated

    Dr. Tamura, a doctor living in Kashino village, and his assistant Haru begin treating the rescued sailors. The survivors suffer from their ordeal at sea and serious injuries. Their medical care gives the Turkish sailors a chance at survival after the disaster.

    Where
    Kashino village
  5. A bond forms between Haru and Mustafa

    In the wake of the life-rescuing efforts, Haru builds a special bond with Mustafa, an officer on the Ertuğrul. Their connection grows out of her devoted care for the shipwrecked survivors. The friendship symbolizes the warmth that develops between the Japanese villagers and their Turkish guests.

    Where
    Kashino village
  6. The poor village shares everything

    Although being very poor and having hardly anything to eat themselves, the villagers share what little they have with the strangers from a country 9,000 kilometers away. They give the Turkish sailors shelter in their small village of only 60 households. This selfless hospitality leaves a lasting impression on the survivors.

    Where
    Kashino village
  7. Iraq threatens aircraft over Iranian airspace

    In 1985, during the Iran–Iraq War, Iraq announces an indiscriminate attack and threatens to shoot down any aircraft flying over Iranian air space. The declaration puts all civilian flights into the region at grave risk. An ultimatum is set, creating urgency for anyone still stranded in Iran.

    When
    1985
    Where
    Iran
  8. 300 Japanese stranded in Tehran

    More than 300 Japanese people find themselves stranded in Tehran as the danger intensifies. While evacuation flights from other nations are arriving, the Japanese remain trapped with no way out. The situation grows more desperate as Iraq's ultimatum approaches.

    When
    1985
    Where
    Tehran, Iran
  9. Japan cannot send rescue flights

    Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Nomura requests rescue flights from Japan to evacuate the stranded citizens. However, he is told that a quick response is not possible, leaving the embassy helpless. The lives of over 300 Japanese hang in the balance as time runs out.

    When
    1985
    Where
    Japanese Embassy, Tehran
  10. Harumi proposes asking Turkey for help

    Harumi, a teacher at the Tehran Japanese School, prevails upon Ambassador Nomura to ask the Turkish ambassador for help. Her suggestion recalls the historical bond between the two nations stemming from the Ertuğrul disaster. It becomes the only viable hope for the stranded Japanese.

    When
    1985
    Where
    Tehran, Iran
  11. Turkish Prime Minister Özal decides to help

    Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Özal makes the momentous decision to evacuate the Japanese citizens from Tehran. Despite the grave risks of sending an aircraft into a war zone, Turkey chooses to honor its historical friendship with Japan. The decision sets a daring rescue operation in motion.

    When
    1985
    Where
    Turkey
  12. A Turkish Airlines flight takes off

    In the morning of 19 March, only a few hours before Iraq's ultimatum expires, a Turkish Airlines aircraft takes off for Tehran. The timing is critically tight, as any delay could mean the plane flies into a trap of Iraqi attacks. The daring mission represents Turkey's answer to a call nearly a century in the making.

    When
    Morning of 19 March 1985
    Where
    Turkey
  13. Tehran under heavy rocket fire

    As the Turkish aircraft approaches, Tehran is already under heavy rocket fire from the ongoing war. The city is a dangerous place to land, putting the rescue mission and everyone in it at risk. The desperate situation underscores the courage required to carry out the evacuation.

    When
    19 March 1985
    Where
    Tehran, Iran
  14. Turkish evacuees must give up their seats

    At Tehran Mehrabad Airport, the remaining Turks still need to be convinced that they will not be able to board their own country's evacuation flight. Turkish embassy staff member Murat begins speaking out to his fellow citizens. He reminds them of the compassion and sacrifice Japanese villagers showed to Turkish sailors shipwrecked far away nearly a century earlier.

    When
    19 March 1985
    Where
    Tehran Mehrabad Airport
  15. The shipwreck story seals the rescue

    Murat's appeal about the Kashino villagers' heroism in 1890 moves the Turkish evacuees to give up their places for the Japanese. The old debt of gratitude from the Ertuğrul disaster is finally repaid across generations. The Japanese stranded in Tehran are saved thanks to the friendship forged on the shores of Kii Oshima.

    When
    19 March 1985
    Where
    Tehran Mehrabad Airport

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 07:17

Was this helpful?

Movie threads

More Movies Like 125 Years Memory, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes 125 Years Memory tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies About Cross-Cultural Solidarity Like 125 Years Memory

Tragedy tests strangers’ compassion, while later acts of courage repay enduring human kindness. Explore movies like 125 Years Memory in which strangers rescue one another during disaster or war, and generosity is honored across cultures and generations. These similar historical dramas balance grief and danger with compassion, sacrifice, and ultimately hopeful human connection.

  • heartwarming
  • solemn
  • compassionate
  • resilient
  • bittersweet
  • humanitarian
  • Tone: solemn, hopeful, compassionate
  • Pacing: steady, chapter driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often begin with catastrophe, poverty, or conflict that leaves outsiders isolated. Local characters choose compassion despite limited resources, creating a bond that seems fragile yet meaningful. A later crisis mirrors the earlier sacrifice, allowing gratitude to become action and giving the narrative a sense of historical continuity.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by the same emotional engine: selfless rescue under grave threat, followed by a later expression of gratitude. Their solemn histories, cross-cultural cooperation, and movement from sorrow toward solidarity make the bond feel earned rather than sentimental.

Dual-Timeline Historical Dramas Like 125 Years Memory

Two linked eras mirror disaster and rescue, revealing how private bonds outlive public tragedy. Discover movies like 125 Years Memory that connect two historical periods through parallel crises, recurring themes, and lasting consequences. These similar dramas unfold at a measured pace, allowing grief and memory to bridge the eras while building toward a compassionate, emotionally resonant resolution.

  • reflective
  • historical
  • bittersweet
  • resilient
  • nostalgic
  • somber
  • Tone: reflective, bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: measured, parallel
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A dual-era narrative introduces one catastrophe in a distinct historical context, then cuts across time to a related emergency. Character choices, visual echoes, and inherited gestures make the chapters feel causally connected. The later event transforms the first into part of a larger legacy, while each chapter carries the emotional weight of loss and survival.

Why they belong together: These films share a parallel-chapter structure, a reflective pace, and a theme of compassion carried through historical memory. The juxtaposition lets audiences compare crisis and response across generations, giving familiar acts of courage the emotional force of a long-running promise.

Every angle

125 Years Memory (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about 125 Years Memory in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app