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November 5, 2008
Posted: 1109 GMT
OBAMA, Japan - Barely anyone in this room can vote but that doesn't matter. When the TV screens flashed: "Obama wins the Presidency," and after a gap needed to translate the English on the screen to Japanese, they started chanting with abundant pride, "Obama! Obama!"
No help needed in pronunciation here; they know how to pronounce Obama for this is Obama, Japan.
Wheel out the Japanese sweet cakes, Obama sake and Obama caricatures on the kimono, this crowd knows how to throw a party, even if the reason is a little curious.
My favorite is the red power ranger. Don't ask why he's a dancer in the band that sings the "Obama is Beautiful World" song that's the theme song for this victory party. He doesn't sing – he just dances oddly in the background. But he's still a part of the party, like the rest of the 500 Obama for Obama supporters.
Sure, the reason for all this is to publicize this city's global connection and maybe snag a tourist or two to visit Obama out of curiosity.
But they also genuinely want to be a small part of this election, an event which has captivated audiences far beyond the U.S. border. And with pop music, a power ranger and gusto to share, they're powering onto the global stage, even if it's just for a brief moment. Posted by: CNN Correspondent, Kyung Lah |
Hear from CNN reporters across the globe. "In the Field" is a unique blog that will let you share the thoughts and observations of CNN's award-winning international journalists from their far-flung bureaus or on assignment. Whether it's from conflict zone, a summit gathering, or the path least traveled, "In the Field" gives you a personal, front row seat to CNN's global newsgathering team. Recent Posts
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