Turkish cultural center to be constructed in Tokyo

ANKARA

The groundbreaking ceremony of Turkish Diyanet Cultural Center in Tokyo was held on Friday.

Diyanet is Turkey's top religious affairs body.

Speaking at the ceremony, Diyanet’s deputy head Prof. Yavuz Unal said Turkey and Japan have developed a friendship that has exemplary nature to other nations.

"I believe that this center will contribute even more to the development of good relations between our peoples and cultures," Unal emphasized.

Muhammed Rasit Alas, Imam of Tokyo Mosque (also known as Tokyo Camii) told Anadolu Agency that Tokyo Diyanet Cultural Center will be constructed next to the mosque and the construction is planned to be completed in one and a half years.

He said the cultural center will be a four-story building and there will be a big library inside.

Alas added that a lot of Islamic sources in English and Japanese will be available in the library.

The Imam of Tokyo Mosque further said there will be classrooms and seminar halls, where lessons of Islamic teachings, gastronomy, Ebru art (Turkish paper marbling) and musical instruments will be held.

Tokyo Mosque, which is one of the largest mosques in Japan, was built by Turkey and it was opened in 2000.

*Reporting by Ecenur Colak; Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet