ARTICLE FILMS
TOKYO KURDS
By Fumiari Hyuga
2018 / DCP /16:9 / 21min/ Japanese,Kurdish/English Subtitle/Japan
Storyline
It is difficult to get refugee status in Japan. In 2016, the number of recognized as refugees was 28 out of 10,901. Their situation is hopeless. For the past 20 years, Turkish Kurds have been fleeing from prejudice and persecution and coming to the Tokyo area, where they now number about 1,500. Among them is 18-year-old Ozan, who first came to Tokyo as a child. Living in Japan with his family as an ‘illegally
alien’ rather than an officially recognized refugee, Ozan has been forced to work illegally, and today he doses demolition work on buildings and homes. This film portrays one summer in Ozan’ s life as he begins work that hopes will fulfill his secret dreams while struggling with a sense of alienation from Japanese society.
Director's Biography (Fumiari Hyuga)
Fumiari Hyuga joined production company ‘Documentary Japan’ in 2006. He has directed various TV programs such as Should young people shoot guns? (15) the short documentary for NHK about the conscription for army service and patriotism of youth in Ukraine Civil war. The story about Syrian refugees living in Japan, Syrians next door(16) Another TV documentary for NHK The fact of African American protest demonstration (14)
a story about African American discrimination against the police in New York. His short film TOKYO KURDS have been selected for HOT DOCS Films Festival(18), Won the Excellence Award in TokyoDocs Short Documentary showcase(17), Also received the most accomplished award for TV Journalism, Galaxy Awards(18)
Director：Fumiari Hyuga
Cinematography；Toshiyuki Matsumura, Yuji Kanazawa
Sound Editing、Mixer：Kenichi Tominaga
Sound Designer：Akira Masuko
Digital Conform：Rintaro Oriyama
Producer：Tetsuo Maki, Atsuko Motoki
Production：Documentary Japan Inc.
DIrector Statement
I have covered a story about refugees who have escaped to Japan for the past three years.
I have met Syrians, Rohingyas, and Turkish Kurds. Especially when I talked with Kurdish people I felt strongly that there was no hope for their future. They can not get “refugee recognition” and because of their unstable status, they are not allowed to raise money out of the job. So they can not feel hopeful about the future.
But In this film, I did not just wish to focus on the Japanese system and law. I met one youth whom I have been so much attracted, and I was interested in filming his own life. His name was Ozan. He was an 18-year-old daily worker who had a unique hairstyle. And he was an ‘illegally alien’.I wanted to film the reality of his life in Japan, with no place to fit. And his fragile identity.
When you lose all your dream, having no hope for the future, where do such person head for? Through this documentary, I would like to ask people around the world.