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Obama, Fukui
Obama, Fukui
Obama ??? 135.75Coordinates: 35°30′N 135°45′E / 35.5°N 135.75°E / 35.5; 135.75 Symbols
Flag Obama’s location in Fukui, Japan. Obama Government Office Mayor Address Toshio Murakami 6-3 Ote-machi, Obama-shi, Fukui-ken 917-8585 0770-53-1111
Phone number
Official website: City of Obama
Obama’s location in Japan. Location Country Region Prefecture Japan Hokuriku Fukui
City hall Obama (???, Obama-shi) is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.
Physical characteristics Area Population (as of 2005) Total Density Location 32,185 138.22 /km2 (358 / sq mi) 35°30′N 135°45′E / 35.5°N 135.75°E / 35.5; 232.85 km2 (89.90 sq mi)
Location
Facing Wakasa Bay due north of Kyoto, the city is about four to five hours by train from Tokyo, and is served by the Obama Line of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). As of October 1, 2005, the city had an estimated population of 32,185 and a density of
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138.22 persons per km². The total area is 232.85 km².
Obama, Fukui
Traditions
History
Obama means "little beach" in Japanese.[1] In the Ritsuryō period, Obama was the capital of Wakasa Province, one of entrance of continental culture. Many temples related to the Yamato Dynasty are located in Obama, and the city is called "Nara by the sea". In the Edo period, Obama was the capital of the Obama Domain and was the starting point of the Mackerel Road to Kyoto. The area was municipalized as a city in March 30, 1951 although the area has been inhabited for centuries. Otojirō Uratani is currently the mayor of Obama.
Myotsu-ji Temple The Omizu-okuri (Water Carrying) Festival is an annual event that dates back more than 1,200 years. [2] Local tourist attractions include the Myotsu-ji Temple and the surrounding Karesansui Garden. [8] The Wakasa Historical and Folk Museum is housed in a large, modern facility.
Economy
Fishing used to be the main industry, but now it is mostly supported by tourism. Wakasa lacquered chopsticks, agate accessories, and other crafts are made in the area. [2]
Education
Fukui Prefectural University is located in Obama and has been operating only since 1992. [3] However, in this short period, the university’s Research Center for Marine Bioresources has been noted for its research of preservation and in the fields of fish embryogenesis, aquaculture stock enhancement, fish disease, and microalgeal bloom. [4] The university also has schools (faculties) of Economics, Nursing, Arts and Sciences, Biotechnology, and others. [5] Medical research is done at the Obama Community Hospital.
[6] [7]
Transportation
Obama Bay • JR West Obama Line (Including Obama Station, Higashi-Obama Station, Kato Station, Seihama Station, and Shin Hirano Station) • Obama Nishi Interchange, terminus of the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway • Japan National Route 27 • Japan National Route 162 • Fukui Prefectural Route 35 (KusakaNakanohata Obama Route) • Wakasa Heliport
Cultural influences
As a result of its location in the Wakasa Province area, which travellers passed through when travelling between China and Kyoto, the area was influenced by Chinese culture for a long period. There are cultural artifacts throughout the area. [2] There are many buildings and houses in the Sancho-machi area of the city whose design was influenced by trade with the Chinese mainland. [8]
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Obama, Fukui
of Japanese confectionery) with Senator Obama’s face on them. A hula group began in the town in honour of Senator Obama’s home state of Hawaii. The troupe visited Honolulu in June to perform at the Pan Pacific Festival.[11] Senator Obama has since thanked the town for their gifts and support, saying "I look forward to a future marked by the continued friendship of our two great nations and a shared commitment to a better, freer world".[1] There are a number of Japanese with the surname Obama. Though the American President is of Kenyan Luo heritage, it is not uncommon for Japanese and East African names to sound alike.[12][13] As a result of the victory by Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, the Mayor of Obama City announced to the Japanese press that he intends to commission a statue of Barack Obama to be put in front of the city hall "as a token of the great historical moment for the name Obama". [14] In addition, he has declared that November 4 will be an annual holiday in the city. On January 20, 2009, the day that Barack Obama was sworn into office, the city of Obama celebrated with women dancing the hula at the Hagaji Temple to celebrate the inauguration.[15]
Sotomo coast
Sister and friendship cities
Obama has sister and friendship relationships with the following cities in the world[9]: • Sister cities: • Nara, Nara, Japan • Gyeongju, South Korea • Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan • Friendship cities: • Xi’an, China • Pinghu, China • Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan
Visitor attractions
• Omizutori • Obama Castle (Fukui) - Obama Shrine (? ???, Obama Jinja) within the castle
North Korean abductions
Obama is one of the locations where Japanese citizens were abducted by agents of the North Korean government on July 7, 1978.[16][17]
Relationship with Barack Obama
The city of Obama has received much publicity because it shares its name with that of U.S. President Barack Obama. It began when Obama as a Senator gave a 2006 interview to Japanese television network TBS where he noted that, when passing through customs in Narita Airport, an official looking at his visa said that he was from Obama.[10] The Obama City Hall heard about the interview and the mayor, Toshio Murakami, sent Senator Obama a set of the city’s famous lacquer chopsticks, a DVD about the city and a letter wishing him the best. As Senator Obama’s presidential campaign progressed, more local businesses began to organize primary parties and put up "Go Obama!" posters, sell "I love Obama" T-shirts, and produce manjū (a type
See also
Film and TV
• TV drama Asadora Chiritotechin (??????) (2007-2008) starring Shihori Kanjiya • Cable TV Wakasa Obama, a cable television and internet services provider in Fukui Prefecture, headquartered in Obama
People from Obama
• Sugita Genpaku (1733-1817) • Tsutomi Sakuma (1879-1910)
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Obama, Fukui
[11] Japanese hula troupe has vested interest in election The Honolulu Star-Bulletin June 7, 2009 [12] Norimitsu Onishi, Candidate Wins Support in the East. No, Farther East., The New York Times, February 19, 2008. [13] Obama receives backing of Obama from The Guardian [14] Yomiuri Shimbun "Mayor of Obama City celebrates his namesake" [15] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/ 28753038/displaymode/1107/s/2/ framenumber/21/ [16] Individual Cases - 17 Abductees Identified by the Government of Japan, Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Government of Japan [17] Overview and history of abduction of japanese citizens by North Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Sources
• Isao Soranaka: Obama: The Rise and Decline of a Seaport. In: Monumenta Nipponica, Jg. 52, Nr. 1, 1997. ISSN 0027-2741
References
[1] ^ Alabaster, Jay (2008-11-05). "Japan’s Obama town celebrates namesake’s victory". Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ ALeqM5iPMabxYNpDSD2MhjJVX8UMLt06AD948MFB80. Retrieved on 2008-11-05. [2] ^ Obama City, Fukui Prefecture [3] Fukui Prefectural University [4] Fukui Prefectural University [5] Fukui Prefectural University [6] SpringerLink - Journal Article [7] Severe weight gain induced by combination treatmen...[Clin Neuropharmacol. 2002 Sep-Oct] PubMed Result [8] ^ JNTO Website | Find a Location | Fukui | Wakasa Bay [9] ??????? ??? [10] PM - Japanese town capitalises on Obama name
External links
• Official website in English • Obama travel guide from Wikitravel • Obama city (Japan) in English from Sister city: Nara City Home Page • Obama city (Japan) in English from Sister city: Kawagoe City Home Page • Media related to Obama, Fukui at Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama,_Fukui" Categories: Cities in Fukui Prefecture This page was last modified on 3 May 2009, at 11:20 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers
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