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Obama Japan supports Obama America to boost tourism
A town of 32,000 people in Japan called Obama is raging with support for Barack Obama as a means to increase tourism to their town. An Obama presidency could boost the city's recognition and possibly increase foreign tourism. The symbol you see here is an unofficial illustration of the group that supports Obama, clearly not for his policy, but for his name. How's that for strategy to enhance tourism!
Obama means "little beach" in Japanese and the town is known for its lacquer ware. To milk Barack Obama's run for American presidency as a means to heighten recognition of their town, they are in process of making headbands, T-shirts and Japanese style bean cakes with Barack's face on them.
The town is also working on nurturing a personal relationship with Barack as they send him "care-packages" with good-luck dolls, lacquer chopsticks, a DVD and guidebook to the city. They hope that one day Barack will stop by on a trip to Japan.
To think that an American president merely sharing the name of a Japanese town could boost the town's economy AND forge relationships between two countries is as great as it is bizarre.
Filed under: Asia, North America, Japan, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bill Vroom Feb 18th 2008 12:51PM
Hey, on a lighter side, check out this wonderful Obama site: http://obamawill.com
jean Feb 19th 2008 8:22PM
Perhaps if Obama is elected president (i wish so) he will someday come to visit your city, Obama, as means of further growing friendship between America and Japan.
Wanda Mar 8th 2008 9:05PM
Very interesting. These people like him and don't even know anything about him.