JAPAN: In the Japanese city of Obama, residents hope the U.S. President who shares his last name with the name of their town will win another term
Record ID:
466704
JAPAN: In the Japanese city of Obama, residents hope the U.S. President who shares his last name with the name of their town will win another term
- Title: JAPAN: In the Japanese city of Obama, residents hope the U.S. President who shares his last name with the name of their town will win another term
- Date: 6th November 2012
- Summary: OBAMA CITY, FUKUI PREFECTURE, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 6, 2012) (REUTERS) AERIAL OF OBAMA CITY CLOSER VIEW OF BUILDINGS IN OBAMA CITY VARIOUS OF FLAGS ON OBAMA STREETS READING "I HEART OBAMA" AND "OBAMA FOR OBAMA" MAN WALKING INTO BUILDING, CUTOUT OF U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IN DOORWAY CLOSE OF OBAMA CUTOUT IMAGES OF BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE "OBAMA FOR OBAMA" SUPPORT GROUP, SEIJI FUJIHARA, LOOKING AT IMAGES "I HEART OBAMA" PIN ON SEIJI FUJIHARA'S SUIT OBAMA CUTOUT PRESIDENT OF THE "OBAMA FOR OBAMA" SUPPORT GROUP, SEIJI FUJIHARA, STANDING IN FRONT OF WALL WITH OBAMA IMAGES AND ELECTION POSTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PRESIDENT OF "OBAMA FOR OBAMA" SUPPORT GROUP, SEIJI FUJIHARA, SAYING: "While this is just my personal feeling, everyone sort of supports President Obama as if they were supporting a friend. So I think it's the wish of everyone in Obama City that he manages to get re-elected." "I HEART OBAMA 2012" PIN DESIGNS VARIOUS OF STATUE OF BARACK OBAMA ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 78 YEAR-OLD OBAMA CITY RESIDENT, IKIKO WADA, SAYING: "Of course I want Mr. Obama to get elected. I think that everyone's supporting him fully here." TRAFFIC ON CITY STREET ANOTHER SMALL FLAG READING IN ENGLISH "I HEART OBAMA, OBAMA FOR OBAMA" (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 52 YEAR-OLD GYM OWNER, MASAHIRO HIRAO, SAYING: "The sense of closeness was amazing. It was good for Obama city, and I think that everyone is looking to support President Obama so that he can have the type of presidency he was aiming for." VARIOUS MORE OF OBAMA STATUE NEXT TO VENDING MACHINE
- Embargoed: 21st November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA8EAURY4V95TP9ZKWTWC78J3ZY
- Story Text: One city in western Japan is looking forward to the results of the U.S. Presidental election with more anticipation than most.
Obama City happens to share its name with the current president of the United States and its residents have been supporting Barack Obama since 2006 - when he was still a Senator.
Gift shops in the port city of 32,000 now sell Barack Obama themed candy and thanks to the "Obama for Obama" support group, the town even has a small statue of the U.S. president.
Seiji Fujihara is the president of the "Obama for Obama" group.
"While this is just my personal feeling, everyone sort of supports President Obama as if they were supporting a friend. So I think it's the wish of everyone in Obama City that he manages to get re-elected," he told Reuters on U.S. election day (November 6).
Residents on the streets of Obama seem to prove him right.
"Of course I want Mr. Obama to get elected. I think that everyone's supporting him fully here," said Ikko Wada.
"The sense of closeness was amazing. It was good for Obama city, and I think that everyone is looking to support President Obama so that he can have the type of presidency he was aiming for," said gym owner Masahiro Hirao.
One attraction of his gym is a group of hulu dancers called the "Obama girls". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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