Obama, Fukui
Template:Redirect Template:Infobox settlement Template:Nihongo is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Template:As of, the city had an estimated population of 29,435 in 12,057 households and a population density of 240 persons per km2 (327/sq mi).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The total area of the city was Template:Convert.
Etymology
Obama means "small beach" in Japanese.<ref name = ap-ja-2008-11>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
Obama is located in far southwestern Fukui Prefecture, bordered by Shiga Prefecture to the south and the heavily indented ria coast of Obama Bay (within Wakasa Bay) on the Sea of Japan to the north. It is due north of Kyoto, and is about four to seven hours by train from Tokyo. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park.
Neighbouring municipalities
- Fukui Prefecture
- Shiga Prefecture
Climate
Obama has a Humid Subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Obama is Template:Cvt. The average annual rainfall is Template:Cvt with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around Template:Cvt, and lowest in January, at around Template:Cvt.<ref name=normals/>
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the population of Obama has been on gradual decline since its peak population of ~38500 in late 1960s and early 1970s.
Template:Historical populations
History
Obama developed as a seaport with connections to the Asian continent even before the start of written history in Japan, and artefacts from China have been found in local tombs from the Kofun period. From the Asuka period and Nara period, salt and seafood from the Obama area were supplied to the imperial dynasty, and under the Ritsuryō system, Obama was the capital of Wakasa Province. Many temples and cultural remains from the Nara and Heian period are found in the Obama area, and the city labels itself "Nara by the sea" in its tourist promotions. As a result of its location in the Wakasa Province area, which travelers passed through when traveling between China and Kyoto, the area was influenced by Chinese culture for a long period. There are many buildings and houses in the Sancho-machi area of the city whose design was influenced by trade with the Chinese mainland.<ref name="jnto.go.jp">Template:Cite web</ref>
Obama is one of the locations where Japanese citizens were abducted by North Korean agents on July 7, 1978.<ref>Individual Cases – 17 Abductees Identified by the Government of Japan Template:Webarchive, Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Government of Japan</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The economy of Obama is mixed, with agriculture and commercial fishing playing important roles. Seasonal tourism is of growing importance.<ref name = ap-ja-2008-11 /> Wakasa lacquered chopsticks, agate accessories, and other crafts are made in the area.<ref name="Obama City, Fukui Prefecture">Template:Cite web</ref>
Fukui Prefectural University has a branch campus located in Obama since 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The university also has schools (faculties) of Economics, Nursing, Arts and Sciences, Biotechnology, and others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transportation
Railway
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Highway
International relations
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sister cities
- Template:Flagicon Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan
- Template:Flagicon Nara, Nara, Japan
- Template:Flagicon Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Friendship cities
- Template:Flagicon Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan
- Template:Flagicon Pinghu, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Template:Flagicon Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
Relationship with Barack Obama
The city of Obama has received much publicity because it shares its name with former 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, the official who inspected his visa said that he was from Obama.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 of Japanese confectionery) with Senator Obama's face on them. A hula group began in the town in honor of Senator Obama's home state of Hawaii. The troupe visited Honolulu in June to perform at the Pan Pacific Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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".<ref name="hp-as-2008-11">Template:Cite news</ref>
There are a number of Japanese people with the surname Obama. Though the former American President is of Kenyan Luo heritage, it is not uncommon for Japanese and East African names to sound alike.<ref name="nyt021908">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 intended 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".<ref>Yomiuri Shimbun "Mayor of Obama City celebrates his namesake"</ref> On January 20, 2009, the day that Barack Obama was sworn into office, the city of Obama celebrated the inauguration with women dancing the hula at the Hagaji Temple.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On November 14, 2009, President Obama specifically acknowledged his connection with Obama by mentioning it and its citizens in a speech at Suntory Hall in Tokyo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, Obama mayor Koji Matsuzaki gave a red lacquer pen to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to give to President Obama.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Local attractions
- Bukkokuji, a working Zen monastery.
- Hosshinji, a working Zen monastery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mantoku-ji, Buddhist temple with Japanese garden designed a National Place of Scenic Beauty
- Myōtsū-ji<ref name="jnto.go.jp"/>
- site of Nochiseyama Castle, a National Historic Site
- site of Obama Castle
- Wakasa Historical and Folk Museum
- Wakasa Kokubun-ji, provincial temple of Wakasa Province
- Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park
- Wakasahiko Shrine, ichinomiya of Wakasa Province
Festivals
- Omizu-okuri (Water Carrying) Festival is held every March 2 on which water is drawn from the Onyu River and presented to the principal image of the temple. This annual event dates back more than 1,200 years.<ref name="Obama City, Fukui Prefecture"/>
References
- Specific
- General
- Isao Soranaka: Obama: The Rise and Decline of a Seaport. In: Monumenta Nipponica, Jg. 52, Nr. 1, 1997. Template:ISSN
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
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- Template:Official website Template:In lang
- Template:Official website Template:In lang
- Obama city (Japan) Template:Webarchive in English from Sister city: Nara City Home Page
- Obama city (Japan) Template:Webarchive in English from Sister city: Kawagoe City Home Page