- Title: JAPAN: Obama city residents in Japan cheer Obama victory.
- Date: 7th November 2012
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) HEAD OF OBAMA GIRLS HULA DANCERS SHIMIZU (LAST NAME ONLY): "As this is indeed a small town, having Obama himself know about Obama is a miracle I think. I also think it will help the friendship between Japan and America."
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA63AJU7KV0G9FQ5YUHJJPSPUMN
- Story Text: Residents of city that shares it's name with re-elected President Obama celebrate his victory.
As President Barack Obama made his victory speech in Chicago on Wednesday (November 7) residents of one city with the same name as the president on the opposite side of the globe were also cheering his re-election win.
The city of Obama, Japan, which means "small beach" in Japanese, has slightly over 32,000 resident - nearly all fervent Obama supporters since 2006.
Now the whole city is Obama crazy, with everything from the "Obama Girls" hula dancers, created because the newly elect President hails from Hawaii, to a costumed Obama "ranger" turned up to watch the election results live on television.
"As this is indeed a small town, having Obama himself know about Obama is a miracle I think. I also think it will help the friendship between Japan and America," explained the head of the "Obama Girls" Shimizu, who preferred not to give her real name because she is worried of criticism she's received on the Internet in the past.
As participants sat and watched the votes being opened, a Obama city-based band even came out and performed some of their hits about Obama.
"Once we started supporting him, a few minutes later he managed to win. So even though we're far away, I really felt like that we had an effect," explained band singer Ken Mutsu.
Once Obama crossed the magic electoral college line, cheering broke out and the "Obama for Obama" group president Seiji Fujihara pulled out the newly made 2012 "Congratulations President Obama on your Re-election!" poster.
With Obama now guaranteed another 4 years in office, Fujihara says that he hopes to have a chance to meet the man that's given his town so much fame in person.
"While I'm not in a hurry, I would love to see President Obama while he's still in office. The most wonderful thing of course would be to have him come and visit Obama city," Fujihara said.
For now however, this small fishing town has at least four more years of fame. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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