It is announced on 12 May that Ilhan Mansiz (27), a popular football player among the Japanese ladies, is planning to come to Japan this August.
This year is the “2003 Year of Turkey in Japan ” and his visit to Japan as a “Goodwill Ambassador” will be one of the events of the Year of Turkey. If this dream comes true, his visit to Japan will be the first time since last year's World Cup in June. A TV commercial which he appears will be on air today.
Ilhan TV Debut
The TV commercial is to advertise a dessert for the Morinaga Milk Industry, “Rokuzaburo Michiba's Turkish Style White Sesame Pudding”, which was supervised by the Japanese great cook Mr. Rokuzaburo Michiba. This pudding will be on sale in the market today. Concerning the contents of the TV commercial, a young lady is treated to the pudding by Ilhan, and the lady feels like she is dreaming. Moreover, a new Turkish style dessert produced by the Great cook of the French Mr. Yutaka Ishinabe will be on sale this autumn.
Prince Ilhan will come to Japan again?!
Ilhan Mansiz, who secured a place in the hearts of Japanese lady's with his charming smile, is visiting Japan after an interval of one year and two months.
According to the Director of Sunny Side Up Co., Ms. Etsuko Tsugihara which Ilhan belongs to, He is planning to come to Japan at the end of this August.
But he is not coming to Japan as a football player. Since Meji 23, for over 113 years, Japan and Turkey has been maintaining friendly relations. This year 2003 is "the Year of Turkey in Japan" and great varieties of events are planned throughout the year. Deepening the friendship relation between Turkey and Japan is his mission this time.
That is to say he will be the "Goodwill Ambassador". Ilhan's first TV commercial was previewed at the Turkish Embassy, Shibuya, Tokyo. It was an exceptional place for a press announcement, but it was a good preparation for Ilhan to start working as a "Goodwill Ambassador".
Ilhan is now working actively in the Turkish League as a member of Besiktas. The league will finish in May, and he will join the Confederation Cup as one of the Turkey 's representatives, in which Japan will join also. He will join a training camp in July. Turkish League will start in August. If his office permits, he will be able to come to Japan even for a short period.
Certainly, exchange events for his fans are also planned. If he comes, I am sure he will do something for his fans according to Sunny Side Up Co., currently; about 500 people are the member of Ilhan's fan club in Japan.
His visit to Japan will be very good news for his fans.
According to his office, Ilhan says that "Turkish and Japanese people have been maintaining good relations. But I hope to develop our friendship further as if we were brothers!"
The most handsome "Goodwill Ambassador" in the world will visit Japan soon.
