Edition: U.S. | Arabic | Set Pref
March 4, 2008
Posted: 1432 GMT

OBAMA, Japan – Mayor Toshio Murakami went to the wrong chair to sit down and address the media. You can’t blame him, for this was his first real press conference. The mayor of Obama, Japan exclaimed to the dozen news cameras focused on him that he’d never seen so many before.

Murakami is the mayor of this 32,000-population fishing village, with the happy accident of sharing its name with the man who hopes to become President of the United States. Murakami is happy to see all the media in his community; maybe it’ll help bring tourists to this sleepy town and boost the sagging economy.

Murakami held up a letter and an envelope, postmarked from Washington, DC. His voice quivered with nerves as he read it to reporters from across Japan as well as a few international news crews. “I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the city of Obama for your support and encouragement, and thank you for your thoughtful gifts,” he said. “We share more than a common name; we share a common planet and common responsibilities.”

Murakami paused as he read the last words of the letter: “Your friend, Barack Obama.”

He looked up at the cameras and smiled, saying: “I’m impressed by his elegance.”

It took a year for the candidate to write that thank you letter, but the town of Obama, Japan, is ecstatic he wrote back at all. The town is cheering on its namesake in the U.S. election, hoping his victory will boost the city’s economy but also bring new life to a place usually focused on daily fishing and its chopstick-making industry.

“It’s exciting,” said chopstick maker Tatsuyuki Funai. He held up a lacquered chopstick emblazoned with a caricature of Barack Obama and the words: I heart Obama. Funai is planning on the chopsticks being used at the viewing party for the US primary returns on mini-Super Tuesday.

And a party, it will be, they promise,  hosted by the self-proclaimed “Unofficial Supporters of Obama” group and featuring the chopsticks, T-shirts sporting Obama’s face and sweet ‘manju’ treats with the same caricature. For the main course, hamburger, pork fillets and special sushi have been named in honor of their adopted, favorite son.

They’ve made clothes for the occasion, including traditional party kimonos and “victory” headbands. And then there’s the entertainment: the town’s 15 hula dancers, who’ve created a dance to express their adoration of Barack Obama.

Mayor Murakami bristled at questions about what he hopes to gain from the media coverage and whether he’s latching on too hard to the coincidence of shared names. But what if Barack Obama wins the White House? Murakami chuckled: “We hope he can find time to visit!”

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NICOLE RAIMER   March 4th, 2008 1645 GMT

This is exactly what this nation needs. Someone that is truly passionate about the people that is being affected by the many problems that we are faced with. Mr. Obama is just that spirit that America needs to re-shape the nation into a world that was never known by EVERYONE (blacks, whites, hispanics, latinos, all). He epitimizes the dream that our civil rights leader and so many started to carry out. Hillary with all due respect is no Bill Clinton. We praise her hard work and commitiment to the nation as a senator but that’s all her experience represents being a senator. I don’t feel that she is capable to run this nation.

Nicole Raimer
St. Thomas, VI

Carolyn   March 4th, 2008 1707 GMT

guess where I’m moving?

Jay Boger   March 4th, 2008 1715 GMT

Looks like Barack Obama may boost the economy of this fishing village in Japan! I wonder if this will affect the Presidential votes of the Japanesse Americans. Good timing for the Tuesday primaries in the US!!

I am writing from Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México

Camille   March 4th, 2008 1726 GMT

Awesome!

nicolecleary.com » Blog Archive » Some Snippets & Japanese Jots   March 5th, 2008 140 GMT

[...] - Small fishing village of Obama supports Obama. Poor Hillary. There goes the election. [...]

Jo Smithe   March 5th, 2008 912 GMT

Ignorant Japanese or very smart for supporting a candidate that will only undermine The USA

John   March 9th, 2008 1846 GMT

It’s ridiculous this country only sees ‘black, white, hispanic, latino’ and everybody else is just ‘all’, ‘everyone else’. And as an extension, whenever a racially insensitive remark or incident occurs, only those comments made towards those particular groups are covered in the media. ‘Everyone else’ just aren’t important.

If you’re going to say ‘EVERYONE’, just say ‘EVERYONE’. Don’t try to make a pathetic list thinking you’ve encompassed ‘all’.

Kent Klang   March 12th, 2008 128 GMT

Thanks for an interesting and lovely way,to report over the both democrats.Clinton/Obama. I belive you can not understand how important this is,also for us,people who are not Americans and lives on other continents,like I am,living in Sweden. We are following the “Race” exactly as You are. I am personaly one of the persons,who are not very fond of “gigolo-behaviar”,standing with a microphone and shouting out just negative talking over my combatant,but more the “How do I act myself”-action. What´s happens to USA will also happen to us,good/bad,it`s easy to learn,just look at the news and read the history. Thank You for good broadcasting. K.K. P.S. I have a question; How can we call people “black” when they are,as faar as I can see, lightbrown,brown or darkbrown. Are most peple coulorblind or am I born with something wrong with my coulorseeing??

Alex B   March 13th, 2008 2352 GMT

We are now relieving Martin Luther King’s dream that one day all human beings, black, white and other will live together in unity. This is indeed a historic period when an African American had a very good chance of becoming the President of this great nation. Wow!!!. I really want to cry. This is superb.

Rachel Wolf   March 15th, 2008 1454 GMT

The world is witnessing corruption penetrating through the US media. CNN has traded off its integrity just to promote Obama.
The american people wants the old unbiased CNN back. Is Obama’s campaign paying the salary of the employees in CNN, just curious.

Rachel Wisalesbian   March 27th, 2008 1801 GMT

Good news for Obama and good news for me.

Jonah   March 30th, 2008 1131 GMT

RE: Nicole Raimer

You said; Blacks, Whites, Hispanics (Latinos), but don’t forget about the Asian-Americans, and the Africans……..Miss know it all. :-)

ilana   March 31st, 2008 354 GMT

I am not concerned about Obama’s color skin But I am very preoccuped about his past: he is muslim, he can not denied that. Any one heard about the Troyan Horse? or just me?
Think about it…

Octopushead   April 3rd, 2008 504 GMT

As an American living in Japan for the past four years it is refreshing to see Japanese and ex-pats from other nations reference my country with hope and optimism when discussing the election,rather than the disdain and resentment that comes with talking about the Bush administration. Our country’s standing in the international community has never been lower. I say this as someone who has traveled extensively throughout Asia and the middle east, about 50% of the Anti-American sentiment worldwide is ant-Bush. A changing of the guard can only bring positive results. BTW I’ve never heard of the ‘Troyan’ horse, try ‘Trojan’-retard.

Azlan   April 8th, 2008 559 GMT

As a Malaysian, I don’t really think whoever wins the American Presidency will bring much change to the USA’s foreign policy, one way or the other.

America has always been an overbearing and obnoxious nation seeking to impose it’s ideas on others when it’s real hidden agenda is to enrich itself at other peoples’ expense. America has always left a trail of death and destruction wherever it goes, witness:

i. the war in Afghanistan (thousands who were killed were civilians, “collateral damage” according to your Pentagon),
ii. the war in Iraq (thousands who were killed were civilians, “collateral damage” according to your Pentagon),
iii. the Vietnam War (why not ask the survivors of My Lai how “kind” the Americans were to them),
iv. America’s support for the “democracy-loving” Shah of Iran and his secret police, the Savak,
v. America’s support for the “benign and kindly” President Marcos of the Philippines,
vi. America’s support for Pinochet in Chile and the thousands that “disappeared”,
vii. America’s continuing and biased support for Israel against the Palestinians and Lebanese. Thousands of Palestinian civilians and children have died and more are dying everyday due to Israeli bombing and economic sanctions/blockade. And America protests when a handful of Israelis get hurt !!!! Where’s the fairness and impartiality ? Where’s the compassion ?

America’s bungling throughout the world has created innumerable suffering and devastation. America; enough of this incompetence and greed ! Stay at home ! America is as useful to the people of the world as a bullet in the head.

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