Obama, Fukui#Traditions

Obama means "small beach" in Japanese.{{Cite news

| url = http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/11/05/japanese-city-obama-celebrates-namesakes-victory/

| title = Japanese City of Obama Celebrates Namesake's Victory

| author = Staff

| date = 2008-11-05

| agency = Associated Press

| publisher = FOX News Network, LLC.

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150424212948/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/11/05/japanese-city-obama-celebrates-namesakes-victory/

| archive-date = 2015-04-24

| url-status = dead

| access-date = 2015-04-24

| quote = Obama, which means 'small beach' in Japanese, is a former fishing town that now relies almost entirely on tourism.

}}{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Ken |date=2014-11-24 |title=Why Does a Japanese Town Share a Name With a U.S. President? |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-11-24/maphead-ken-jennings-obama-japan-barack-obama |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Condé Nast Traveler |language=en-US}}

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.

• Fukui Prefecture
• Ōi
• Wakasa
• Shiga Prefecture
• Takashima

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 {{cvt|14.8|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|2018.7|mm}} with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{cvt|27.0|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|3.8|C}}.

{{Weather box

|width=auto

|location = Obama (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 18.5

|Feb record high C = 21.6

|Mar record high C = 26.6

|Apr record high C = 30.9

|May record high C = 34.0

|Jun record high C = 37.5

|Jul record high C = 38.9

|Aug record high C = 39.1

|Sep record high C = 38.0

|Oct record high C = 31.4

|Nov record high C = 26.6

|Dec record high C = 21.8

|Jan record low C = -9.4

|Feb record low C = -10.1

|Mar record low C = -6.7

|Apr record low C = -1.5

|May record low C = 3.9

|Jun record low C = 6.3

|Jul record low C = 13.6

|Aug record low C = 14.0

|Sep record low C = 8.5

|Oct record low C = 2.7

|Nov record low C = -1.2

|Dec record low C = -7.8

|Jan high C = 7.4

|Feb high C = 8.0

|Mar high C = 12.1

|Apr high C = 18.0

|May high C = 23.0

|Jun high C = 26.3

|Jul high C = 30.5

|Aug high C = 32.1

|Sep high C = 27.6

|Oct high C = 21.9

|Nov high C = 16.3

|Dec high C = 10.5

|Jan mean C = 3.8

|Feb mean C = 4.1

|Mar mean C = 7.4

|Apr mean C = 12.6

|May mean C = 17.7

|Jun mean C = 21.6

|Jul mean C = 25.7

|Aug mean C = 27.0

|Sep mean C = 22.9

|Oct mean C = 17.2

|Nov mean C = 11.6

|Dec mean C = 6.5

|Jan low C = 0.4

|Feb low C = 0.4

|Mar low C = 2.8

|Apr low C = 7.5

|May low C = 12.8

|Jun low C = 17.6

|Jul low C = 22.1

|Aug low C = 23.0

|Sep low C = 19.1

|Oct low C = 12.8

|Nov low C = 7.1

|Dec low C = 2.6

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 217.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 156.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 135.4

|Apr precipitation mm = 108.4

|May precipitation mm = 137.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 137.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 180.7

|Aug precipitation mm = 157.1

|Sep precipitation mm = 234.4

|Oct precipitation mm = 179.9

|Nov precipitation mm = 160.0

|Dec precipitation mm = 222.6

|year precipitation mm = 2018.7

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 21.0

|Feb precipitation days = 17.6

|Mar precipitation days = 15.1

|Apr precipitation days = 12.3

|May precipitation days = 11.2

|Jun precipitation days = 11.6

|Jul precipitation days = 12.8

|Aug precipitation days = 9.8

|Sep precipitation days = 12.8

|Oct precipitation days = 12.0

|Nov precipitation days = 14.6

|Dec precipitation days = 19.5

|Jan snow cm = 66

|Feb snow cm = 62

|Mar snow cm = 9

|Apr snow cm = 0

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 0

|Dec snow cm = 20

|year snow cm = 157

|unit snow days = 3 cm

|Jan snow days = 6.8

|Feb snow days = 6.2

|Mar snow days = 1.1

|Apr snow days = 0

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 0

|Dec snow days = 2.0

|Jan sun = 64.1

|Feb sun = 77.4

|Mar sun = 124.7

|Apr sun = 169.3

|May sun = 196.8

|Jun sun = 141.2

|Jul sun = 162.6

|Aug sun = 205.2

|Sep sun = 140.6

|Oct sun = 136.9

|Nov sun = 104.3

|Dec sun = 81.5

|year sun = 1613.4

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=57&block_no=0579&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = April 1, 2022}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=57&block_no=0579&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = April 1, 2022}}}}

Per Japanese census data,{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-fukui.php|title=Fukui / 福井県 (Japan): Prefecture, Cities, Towns and Villages – Population Statistics, Charts and Map|website=www.citypopulation.de}} the population of Obama has been on gradual decline since its peak population of ~38500 in late 1960s and early 1970s.

{{Historical populations

| 1940 | 38,554

| 1950 | 36,236

| 1960 | 33,702

| 1970 | 38,138

| 1980 | 34,049

| 1990 | 33,774

| 2000 | 33,295

| 2010 | 31,340

| 2020 | 28,991

|align = none

| footnote =

}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.japan.travel/en/things-to-do/|title=Things to Do | Travel Japan | JNTO|website=Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)}}

In the Edo period, Obama was the jōkamachi of the Obama Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate and was ruled by a branch of the influential Sakai clan. The town remained an important port for the kitamaebune coastal trade, and was the starting point of the Saba-kaidō ("Mackerel highway") connecting the Sea of Japan to Kyoto.

With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the town of Obama was created. It was raised to city status on March 30, 1951, after merging with surrounding municipalities.

Obama is one of the locations where Japanese citizens were abducted by North Korean agents on July 7, 1978.[http://www.rachi.go.jp/en/ratimondai/jian.html#jian06 Individual Cases – 17 Abductees Identified by the Government of Japan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906070923/http://www.rachi.go.jp/en/ratimondai/jian.html#jian06 |date=2018-09-06 }}, Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Government of Japan[http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/n_korea/n_k/rachi.html Overview and history of abduction of japanese citizens by North Korea], Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Obama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members.

The economy of Obama is mixed, with agriculture and commercial fishing playing important roles. Seasonal tourism is of growing importance. Wakasa lacquered chopsticks, agate accessories, and other crafts are made in the area.{{Cite web|url=http://www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1105180594279&SiteID=0|title=Obama City, Fukui Prefecture|access-date=2007-04-10|archive-date=2007-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220242/http://www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1105180594279&SiteID=0|url-status=dead}}

Obama has 17 public elementary schools and two middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Fukui Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates one special education school.

Fukui Prefectural University has a branch campus located in Obama since 1992.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fpu.ac.jp/english/history.html|title=Fukui Prefectural University|access-date=2007-04-10|archive-date=2007-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928163057/http://www.fpu.ac.jp/english/history.html|url-status=dead}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fpu.ac.jp/english/obama.html|title=Fukui Prefectural University|access-date=2007-04-10|archive-date=2007-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928163052/http://www.fpu.ac.jp/english/obama.html|url-status=dead}} The university also has schools (faculties) of Economics, Nursing, Arts and Sciences, Biotechnology, and others.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fpu.ac.jp/english/organization.html|title=Fukui Prefectural University|access-date=2007-04-10|archive-date=2007-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928163103/http://www.fpu.ac.jp/english/organization.html|url-status=dead}}

• 20px JR West – Obama Line
• {{STN|Shin-Hirano|x}}, {{STN|Higashi-Obama|x}}, {{STN| Obama|x}}, {{STN|Seihama|x}}, {{STN|Kato|x}}

• File:JP Expressway E27.svg Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|27}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|162}}

File:Myotsuji and pagoda.jpg]]

File:Obama0004.jpg]]

File:Obama Sotomo08n4592.jpg

File:Wakasa-Hiko-jinja-kamisha.JPG

File:Wakasa mikata joumon museum.jpg

{{Cite web|url=http://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp/category/category_list.asp?Cate1=1&Cate2=19|title=姉妹・友好都市 小浜市|website=www1.city.obama.fukui.jp|access-date=2008-02-11|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173920/http://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp/category/category_list.asp?Cate1=1&Cate2=19|url-status=dead}}

• {{flagicon|Japan}} Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan
• {{flagicon|Japan}} Nara, Nara, Japan
• {{flagicon|South Korea}} Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

• {{flagicon|Japan}} Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan
• {{flagicon|People's Republic of China}} Pinghu, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
• {{flagicon|People's Republic of China}} Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2170535.htm|title=PM – Japanese town capitalises on Obama name|website=www.abc.net.au}} 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.[http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/06/07/features/story01.html Japanese hula troupe has vested interest in election] The Honolulu Star-Bulletin June 7, 2009

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".{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html |title=Obama, Japan Goes Crazy For Obama (VIDEO, PHOTOS) |last=Strzemien |first=Anya |date=28 November 2008 |website=HuffPost |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131115354/http://huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html |archive-date=2009-01-31 |url-status=live |access-date=2015-04-24 |quote=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. I am touched by your friendly gesture, and I wish you all the best. [Something in Japanese], Barack Obama}}

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.Norimitsu Onishi, [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/asia/19japan.html Candidate Wins Support in the East. No, Farther East.], The New York Times, February 19, 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/11/japan.barackobama|title=Obama receives backing of Obama|first=Justin|last=McCurry|date=11 February 2008|newspaper=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |last=Kperogi |first=Farooq A. |title=Japanese Words and Names Sound African. Why? |url=https://www.farooqkperogi.com/2022/10/japanese-words-and-names-sound-african.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Notes From Atlanta}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-16 |title=Japanese words and names sound African (2022) |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40699007 |website=Hacker News}}

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".Yomiuri Shimbun "Mayor of Obama City celebrates his namesake" 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28753038|title=Cheers across U.S. and globe|website=NBC News}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-barack-obama-suntory-hall "Remarks by President Barack Obama at Suntory Hall,"] November 14, 2009; excerpt, "And of course, I could not come here without sending my greetings and gratitude to the citizens of Obama, Japan. (Applause.)"

In 2013, Obama mayor Koji Matsuzaki gave a red lacquer pen to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to give to President Obama.[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/02/16/national/fukui-city-of-obama-gifts-u-s-president-with-lacquered-pen/ Fukui city of Obama gifts U.S. president with lacquered pen February 13, 2014] Japan Times Retrieved January 31, 2016

• Bukkokuji, a working Zen monastery.
• Hosshinji, a working Zen monastery.{{Cite web |url=http://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp/obm/sekai_isan/english/data/318.htm |title=Hosshinji:The wooden seated statue of Motomitsu Takeda |access-date=2011-05-05 |archive-date=2011-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005222742/http://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp/obm/sekai_isan/english/data/318.htm |url-status=dead }}
• Mantoku-ji, Buddhist temple with Japanese garden designed a National Place of Scenic Beauty
• Myōtsū-ji
• 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

• 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.

• Cable TV Wakasa Obama, a cable television and internet services provider in Fukui Prefecture, headquartered in Obama

;Specific

{{reflist|30em}}

;General

• Isao Soranaka: Obama: The Rise and Decline of a Seaport. In: Monumenta Nipponica, Jg. 52, Nr. 1, 1997. {{ISSN|0027-0741}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Wikivoyage inline|Obama}}
• {{Osmrelation|4799816}}
• {{Official website | http://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp| name = Obama City official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
• {{Official website | http://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp/english/| name = Obama City official website}} {{in lang|en}}
• [http://www.city.nara.nara.jp/b_hp/english/kokon/kuryu/obama.htm Obama city (Japan)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219184402/http://www.city.nara.nara.jp/b_hp/english/kokon/kuryu/obama.htm |date=2012-02-19 }} in English from Sister city: Nara City Home Page
• [http://www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1105180594279&SiteID=0 Obama city (Japan)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220242/http://www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1105180594279&SiteID=0 |date=2007-09-27 }} in English from Sister city: Kawagoe City Home Page

{{Fukui}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Fukui Prefecture

Category:Populated coastal places in Japan