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Marutei Tsurunen – a Japanese politician who was born in Finland

Marutei Tsurunen (Martti Turunen), the first foreign-born Japanese of European origin to serve as a member of the Japanese Diet, is up for reelection. During some of the TV coverage of Upper House candidates, Tsurunen made a brief appearance:

Tsurunen, a member of the DPJ, expresses his determination to defeat in LDP.
Tsurunen's 1992 book "I want to be Japanese"

His 1992 book “I want to be Japanese”
Tsurunen’s official website has an English section, which includes a mission statement and a profile. He’s also selling a DVD in English and several books written in Japanese.

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12 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - October 16, 2009 at 6:16 am

Categories: Foreigners in Japan, Politics Tags: Marutei Tsurunen

Mr. USA

Why did they give him subtitles? Is his Japanese really that bad?

jikku

Japanese TV give native Japanese speakers subtitles too.

Niels

If they think his Japanese is bad, he’d be subbed in kana rather then hiregana and kanji.
RMilner

Japanese TV programmes put subtitles on nearly everything. They often put SFX and visual effects on screen too, to highlight pieces of visual action.

I’m impressed he became a member of the Diet. It proves Japanese can accept a person of foreign birth.

LB

“It proves Japanese can accept a person of foreign birth.”

Him, and Ren Ho, and Haku Shinkun…

Or for people most local folks would relate to more easily – Crystal Kay, Jero, Sean Camus, Robert Baldwin, and on and on and on…

Or, speaking from experience, myself. I have found Japanese to be no less accepting than any other group of people once they know you. I have often wondering, those who claim “the Japanese won’t accept foreigners” are expecting what, exactly? Hugs at the airport upon alighting? Acceptance and respect are earned, not given, that is something I learned about age 5.

HamachiMan

They expect nothing less than hugs, rose petals on the grounds surrounding the airport, and deep, reflective bows and subservience from every person they run into, lol.

adsasdfdfddfsd

Timotei Tsurunen, it’s cool that finnish comrade made it “big” in nippon.
Dento

in the 70s that guy abandoned his wife and children in his home country. And also, at that time he was a priest! but I don’t hold it against him, finland is a pretty gloomy place at times.

radical pikachu

he got two women in that video. Red and yellow.

Dento

good for him! someone to keep him warm during the snowless tokyo winter.

http://www.zdwonline.de Haf

Snowless? Tokyo does have snow at times! In the winter 07/08 there were at least 2 cm of snow once! All my Japanese friends lived in constant fear and wouldn’t go outside because of these massive amounts of snow!

The Overthinker

Yeah, I look at the news reports of Tokyo paralyzed by stuff I wouldn’t even put snow tyres on for and laugh.

Marutei Tsurunen – a Japanese politician who was born in Finland

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