I stayed in Türkiye in April 2026. Since my Ikebana student, Munife, had returned to her home country, I traveled there to rely on her support to offer Ikebana workshops. Below is an introduction to my visits to Ankara and Istanbul.
Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, has a population of approximately 5.91 million. I visited in early April, but it was incredibly cold—so much so that it even snowed. I stayed at Munife’s house in Ankara for about a week. Hearing the Adhan in the early morning reminded me once again that this is an Islamic country. The Adhan is a call to prayer sung from mosques five times a day, and I was told that the best singer in the area performs it live.
Ikebana Lesson at Joycut Floral Design, Ankara
At Joycut Floral Design, Beste was an amazing host for me to give ikebana workshop. My workshop was never possible without coordination of Beste and Munife. What a beautiful place for us to enjoy ikebana with spring materials !!
(Workshop in Ankara at Joycut Floral Design)
the Mausoleum of Atatürk and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Here are some of the memorable places Munife took me to. The Anıtkabir (the Mausoleum of Atatürk), dedicated to the founding father of Türkiye, sits on a hill overlooking the city of Ankara. On the day we visited, there were groups of elementary and high school students. The approach leading to the mausoleum building is magnificent. Along the cobblestone path stand 24 lion statues, representing the number of tribes unified by Atatürk. The stones are designed in a way that causes you to stumble if you do not look down while walking. This intentional design naturally guides visitors into a solemn posture as they approach the tomb of this great leader.
(The approach to Anıtkabir)
The inside of the mausoleum is paved with marble gathered from various regions across Türkiye, and the lower floor serves as a museum. The exhibits here offer a deep insight into his personality.
(Anıtkabir)
This region is where the Anatolian civilization once flourished, so we also visited the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The artifacts on display date back to the BC era, showcasing the profound depth of the local culture.
(Museum of Anatolian Civilizations)
Among the exhibits, a clay tablet contract containing a divorce agreement was particularly fascinating. This is an extremely valuable historical document that proves the existence of an advanced social system and a surprising recognition of women’s rights nearly 4,000 years ago, which feels remarkably close to modern times. There were many other impressive exhibits, including ornaments and furniture.
Since I am also interested in Turkish folk music, Munife took me to a concert. Turkish music frequently uses odd time signatures, making it difficult to catch the rhythm, but everyone seemed to enjoy keeping time, and the audience even sang along together.
(Turkish Folk Music Concert)
Ikebana Demonstration in Istanbul Friendship between Japan and Turkiye
I also traveled to Istanbul. Thanks to Munife reaching out to various contacts through her workplace, I was blessed with the opportunity to give an Ikebana demonstration for the members of the Japan-Turkey Women’s Friendship and Culture Association, Istanbul Branch. Many of the Japanese members have lived in Türkiye for many years and were incredibly resilient yet kind. The Turkish members were cheerful and watched my demonstration with great warmth. Ms. Yoshida, the president on the Japanese side, managed to source almost all the flowers I had requested, which must have been a tremendous effort. Munife also kindly took on the role of my assistant during the demonstration.
(Demonstration at the hotel: Munife as a divine assistant)
(Demonstration at the hotel)
Sightseeing in Istanbul Mosques and Cats
We took a ferry back and forth along the Bosphorus Strait, where I saw houses with boat docks that are invisible from land. We occasionally stepped off along the way to enjoy sweets and tea. For sightseeing, we visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar. The bazaar sells absolutely everything, from jewelry and spices to prayer rugs and sweets. It is a place where you could spend hours without ever getting bored if time allowed. The interiors of the mosques were sublime; I felt that if I had been born in this land, I would have become a Muslim without hesitation.
(Inside Hagia Sophia)
The food in Türkiye was delicious without exception, and the meals included plenty of vegetables. I heard that Türkiye’s food self-sufficiency rate is 100%. While dining at cafes or restaurants, cats would occasionally settle under the chairs or right on top of the tables. The people of Türkiye are very kind to cats and never try to shoo them away. I hope to visit Istanbul again someday, a city so wonderfully tolerant of its street cats.
(A cat relaxing on a cafe table)
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