MARUTEI TSURUNEN -
JAPANESE BY HEART
Portrait Documentary 2005

Marutei Tsurunen at The Diet of Japan 2002

From Home to Diet 1967-2002

“The Earth is my country and mankind is my race”

Marutei Tsurunen at home from his childhood in Finland (5.8.2002)

www.tsuruton.net

Theme                      
The portrait Japanese by heart is about the journey of Martti
Turunen (born 1940) from the son of a small farm in
Northern Carelia to the Japanese Member of Parliament
Marutei Tsurunen. The huge leap from Jaakonvaara in
Pielisjärvi to the centre of Tokyo, one of the world’s bigges
metropols lasts nearly three decades.

The story of Marutei can be called remarkable for many reasons, but in one respect he will go down in world history. Marutei Tsurunen is the first westerner to become a member of parliament in Japan. Many people may ask how it is possible and what is the price of this achievement. The portrait documentary Japanese by heart reveals a determined but tedious journey towards a goal that Marutei has set for himself: ”I want to go where no one else will help me!” The main character himself speaks of guidance, by which he has succeeded step by step in reaching a metamorphosis. This metamorphosis is incomparable. The story about a man who wanted to become Japanese is worth seeing. It gives hope to people who have lost faith in their dream coming true.
 

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We are going to film in Japan Spring and Autumn 2004