ARTicle Films
TOKYO KURDS
Fumiari HYUGA
2021 / DCP /16:9 / 105min/ Japanese,Kurdish/English Subtitle/Japan
In the 1990s, about 2,000 Turkish Kurdish refugees settled in a suburb of Tokyo. This documentary focuses on three young Kurds in Japan.
Since the ’90s, Turkish/Kurdish refugees have arrived in Japan and settled in a suburb of Tokyo. today, that community is 2000 heads strong and after all these years, they still are illegal immigrants. Here live Ozan (18), Ramazan (19)and Mehmet(38).
Ten years ago, when he was 6 years old, Ozan fled together with his parents. For the past three years Ozan has been working at a job demolishing buildings and houses to help with the family finances, but doubts he can keep living this way indefinitely and is anxious about his uncertain future. He is irritated at not being able to find a place where he belongs. He sees no way out.
Mehmet. While 520 days in detention for no apparent reason but for being an illegal immigrant, Memet - who is Ramazan’s cousin When Mehmet was detained, he almost lost his life when a medical urgency occurred and the immigration office refused his transfer to a hospital, In spite of the fact that his life was in danger. We witnessed and filmed this incident. Ozan fears that the same fate is waiting for him.
Director's Biography (Fumiari Hyuga)
Director's Biography (Fumiari Hyuga)
Fumiari Hyuga joined the 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 protest demonstration against the police in New York. His short film TOKYO KURDS(17) has been selected for numerous Films Festivals include HOT DOCS Films Festival(18), DMZ Documentary Festival(19), Kassel Documentary Festival (19), and so on. Also won the Excellence Award in TokyoDocs Short Documentary showcase, received the most accomplished award for TV Journalism, Galaxy Awards(18). Fumiari continued to follow the subject TOKYO KURDS(21) successfully became Feature film which right after finishing the post-production, started opening in theaters nationwide.
His latest film The Misfit Comedian(22) chosen at DMZ Documentary Festival`s industry rough-cut presentation,
Director：Fumiari Hyuga
Editor: Takeshi HATA
Cinematography；Toshiyuki Matsumura, Yuji Kanazawa
Sound Editing、Mixer：Kenichi Tominaga
Sound Designer：Akira Masuko
Digital Conform：Rintaro Oriyama
Producer：Tetsuo Maki, Emi Ueyama, 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.
