Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by Marko Hietala, who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers. Although Nightwish have been prominent in their home country since Angels Fall First, they did not achieve wider success until the release of the albums Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000) and Century Child (2002).
Joensuu is a city in Finland and the regional capital of North Karelia. It is located in the eastern interior of the country and in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Joensuu is approximately 78,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 127,000. It is the 12th most populous municipality in Finland, and the ninth most populous urban area in the country.
Marutei Tsurunen is a Finnish-born Japanese politician. He is the first foreign-born Japanese of European origin to serve as a member of the Diet of Japan. He is a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, where he served as Director General of the International Department. He served in the House of Councillors from 2001 to 2013.
Kitee is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region, about 65 kilometres (40 mi) south of Joensuu and about 175 kilometres (109 mi) northeast of Lappeenranta. The municipality has a population of 9,686 and covers an area of 1,724.41 square kilometres (665.80 sq mi) of which 275.61 km2 (106.41 sq mi) is water. The population density is 7.73 inhabitants per square kilometre (20.0/sq mi).
Lieksa is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of 10,229 and covers an area of 4,067.60 square kilometres (1,570.51 sq mi) of which 649.14 km2 (250.63 sq mi) is water. The population density is 2.99 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.7/sq mi).
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli, known professionally as Tarja Turunen or simply Tarja, is a Finnish heavy metal singer, best known as the former lead vocalist of Nightwish.
Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a Finnish heavy metal vocalist, bassist and songwriter. Internationally, he is best known as the former bassist, male vocalist and secondary composer to Tuomas Holopainen, of the symphonic metal band Nightwish. He is also the vocalist and bassist as well as composer and lyricist for the heavy metal band Tarot.
Ludic, or Ludian, or Ludic Karelian, is a Finnic language in the Uralic language family or a Karelian dialect. It is transitional between the Olonets Karelian language and the Veps language. It is spoken by 300 Karelians in the Republic of Karelia in Russia, near the southwestern shore of Lake Onega, including a few children.
James Franklin Hyneman is an American special effects expert who was co-host of the television series MythBusters alongside Adam Savage, where he became known for his distinctive beret and walrus moustache. He is also the owner of M5 Industries, the special effects workshop where MythBusters was filmed.
Kuopion Palloseura, commonly referred to as KuPS, is a Finnish football club based in Kuopio. KuPS plays in Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga.
Jesse Matias Joensuu is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger who finished his career with Porin Ässät of the SM-liiga. Joensuu served as the team's captain for the 2023–24 season.
Timo Mikko Juhani Turunen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Jokerit. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
The kidnapping of Minna Nurminen took place in Helsinki, Finland on 27 May 2009.
Jani Uotinen is a Finnish former footballer. He played for two seasons in the Scottish Football League with Greenock Morton as a central midfielder.
Turunen is a Finnish surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Mateli Magdalena Kuivalatar was a Finnish-Karelian folksinger, seer, and cunning woman. She is regarded as the most noted among the known Finnish-Karelian folksingers of her sex. She was a strong influence on Kanteletar by Elias Lönnrot.
Kari Antero Turunen, is a Finnish artistic director, choral conductor, ensemble tenor, and music scholar and lecturer.
Mari Turunen is a Finnish actress. She has become known for the Kummeli comedy series from 1994 to 2000, and films Kummeli: Kultakuume from 1997 and Kummelin Jackpot from 2006. She also starred in the 2021 crime drama television series Lakeside Murders (Koskinen).
Feeliks Esaias "Esa" Pakarinen was a Finnish actor, singer, accordionist and comedian, best known for the role of Pekka Puupää in the Pekka and Pätkä films from 1953–1960. He was also a skilled, self-taught accordion player.
