Obama, Fukui
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Obama
小浜市

Obama's location in Fukui, Japan.
Obama's location in Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Hokuriku
Prefecture	Fukui
Physical characteristics
Area	232.85 km2 (89.90 sq mi)
Population (as of 2005)
Total	32,185
Density	138.22 /km² (358 /sq mi)
Location	35°30′N 135°45′E / 35.5, 135.75Coordinates: 35°30′N 135°45′E / 35.5, 135.75
Symbols
Flag
Obama Government Office
Mayor	Toshio Murakami
Address	6-3 Ote-machi, Obama-shi, Fukui-ken 917-8585
Phone number	0770-53-1111
Official website: City of Obama

City hall

Obama (小浜市, Obama-shi^?) is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

Location

Facing Wakasa Bay due north of Kyoto and Nara, the city is about four to five hours by train from Tokyo, and is served by the Obama Line of West Japan Railway (JR West).

As of October 1, 2005, the city had an estimated population of 32,185 and a density of 138.22 persons per km². The total area is 232.85 km².

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.

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}

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. ⁸ There are many buildings and houses in the Sancho-machi area of the city whose design was influenced by trade with the Chinese mainland. ⁹

Traditions

Myotsu-ji Temple

The Omizu-okuri (Water Carrying) Festival is an annual event that dates back more than 1,200 years. ¹⁰ Local tourist attractions include the Myotsu-ji Temple and the surrounding Karesansui Garden. ¹¹ The Wakasa Historical and Folk Museum is housed in a large, modern facility.

Transportation

Obama Bay

Sotomo coast

• 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 (Kusaka-Nakanohata Obama Route)
• Wakasa Heliport

Sister and friendship cities

Obama has sister and friendship relationships with the following cities in the world¹²:

• 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 (小浜神社, Obama Jinja^?) within the castle

Relationship with elected U.S. President, Barack Obama

After the city of Obama noted the rise of Barack Obama as an American politician (Democratic Party) and as the elected President of the United States, they decided to use the common name to boost publicity for the town.

It began when the Illinois 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 noted that he was from Obama.¹³ The Obama City Hall heard about the interview and the then 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 of Japanese confectionery) with Senator Obama's face on them.

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 Senator is of Kenyan Luo heritage; it is not uncommon for Japanese and East African names to sound alike.¹⁴¹⁵

Statue of Barack Obama after victory in 2008 US election

As a result of the decisive 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".¹⁶

In addition, he has declared that November 4th will be an annual holiday in the city.

North Korean abductions

Main article: North Korean abductions of Japanese

Obama is one of the locations where Japanese citizens were abducted by agents of the North Korean government on July 7, 1978.^{citation needed}

See also

Film and TV

• TV drama Asadora Chiritotechin (ちりとてちん) (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)

Sources

• Isao Soranaka: Obama: The Rise and Decline of a Seaport. In: Monumenta Nipponica, Jg. 52, Nr. 1, 1997. ISSN 0027-2741

References

External links

• Media related to Obama, Fukui at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website in English
• Obama city (Japan) in English from Sister city: Nara City Home Page
• Obama city (Japan) in English from Sister city: Kawagoe City Home Page

v • d • e Fukui Prefecture Cities Awara | Echizen | Fukui (capital) | Katsuyama | Obama | Ōno | Sabae | Sakai | Tsuruga Districts Imadate | Mikata | Mikatakaminaka | Nanjō | Nyū | Ōi | Yoshida See also: Towns and villages by district