Obama City in Japan

Obama City—Some Fun Bits of Information

One of my Japanese students told me about Obama City yesterday, so I wanted to share that information. I am happy that Barack Obama won the US presidential race, as are many other people in the USA and all over the world.

For example, Barack Obama’s victory was greeted with enthusiasm in Japan, especially in the city of Obama. The residents of the city—population 33,000—support the Democratic candidate mainly because of the shared name. Their city, whose Chinese characters mean “Little Beach,” is also pronounced Obama.

Obama City is on Wakasa Bay, facing the Sea of Japan, on the east side of Japan’s main island. It is an historically important city as it is at the east end of the Silk Road and was the front gate to Japan. It was (and is) the best and closest natural harbor to the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto and is often called “Nara by the Sea”. Obama City boasts more than 130 temples and Buddhist statues from the Heian and Kamakura eras.

Obama City produces 80% of Japan’s lacquered chopsticks, in both traditional and modern designs. It’s also known for Wakasa agate crafts. During the US presidential campaign the city sent Senator Obama two sets of these traditional lacquered chopsticks.

As the election results unfolded Wednesday morning in Japan, many local residents gathered in front of five television screens in a hall near Obama port to check on Senator Obama’s progress. People performed Hawaiian dances in a festive atmosphere, in reference to the time Barack Obama spent in Hawaii as a child. They placed blue ribbons in shapes of flowers on the states where Senator Obama scored a victory, and went wild when it was clear their famous namesake was the new American president—they cheered “Banzai!” three times, in the traditional way of expressing joy when Japanese politicians win elections. And a young pop group from the city even recorded its own musical tribute to Mr Obama, a bouncy number with the chorus “lalala Obama”, meaning Obama is a beautiful man.

Obama Mayor Koji Matsuzaki held a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “As the mayor of the city that shares the name Obama, I am extremely happy that the candidate Barack Obama was elected as the U.S. president,” he said.

 “I’m very happy,” also declared Seiji Fujiwara, leader of a local committee formed especially to support Senator Obama. He remembers the letter that the city received from Senator Obama in spring, a letter that said that what they share is not only the name but also responsibility to the world.

The committee is planning to send a congratulatory letter to President-elect Obama. Mr. Fujiwara and some other committee members are planning to fly to Washington in January, hoping to attend the inauguration.

I say, good luck to them!