US President Barack Obama charmed his Tokyo audience with references to green tea ice cream, Japanese traditional hospitality and, of course, the small town that bears his name.
“I could not come here without sending my greetings and my gratitude to the citizens of Obama, Japan,” said the president to the delight of the western Japan town that has turned its accidental fame into a cottage industry.
The ancient fishing town of 30,000, about 400km from Tokyo, has long supported its White House namesake, and some of its residents were in Tokyo to steal a glimpse of the president.
Wearing “I Love Obama” T-shirts, a small delegation braved rainy weather on a Tokyo sidewalk and waved as the presidential motorcade passed by.
“The president clearly looked at us and recognized us,” said an excited Seiji Fujihara, who leads a dance troupe that performed a hula dance in honor of the president, who was born in Hawaii.
“I was so touched when President Obama mentioned our town,” Fujihara gushed. “I felt goose bumps.”
In his speech Obama recalled a childhood visit to Kamakura, a temple-studded town near Tokyo, where he “looked up at that centuries-old symbol of peace and tranquility, the great bronze Amida Buddha.”
Then he quipped: “As a child, I was more focused on the matcha (green tea) ice cream. But I have never forgotten the warmth and hospitality that the Japanese people showed a young American far from home.”
Obamania was alive and well among the audience — where many hailed his personal charm and wide knowledge about the region.
“His voice was good. He spoke naturally. He has something that attracts people,” said Yasuko Maki, a 60-year-old housewife.
Her husband, Akihiro, 66, agreed: “He covered every subject and explained how America will handle it. He intends to work as our partner. He is different from former US presidents.”
(AFP)
美國總統巴拉克．歐巴瑪魅力席捲東京民眾，他在演講中提到抹茶冰淇淋、日本傳統的好客精神，當然還有和他同名的小鎮。
「來到這裡，我不能不向日本小濱市（Obama）的市民致意，並獻上感謝之情。」歐巴瑪這番話，讓日本西部該市市民欣喜若狂。小濱市利用和歐巴瑪同名的機會，已發展成為家庭工業之鄉。
昔日以漁業為主的小濱市人口約三萬、距離東京約四百公里，長期以來都很支持這位和該市同名的白宮主人，部份市民還特地到東京一睹歐巴瑪風采。
一個小型代表團穿著「我愛歐巴瑪」T恤，冒雨站在東京人行道上，趁歐巴瑪車隊經過時揮手致意。
藤原清次興奮地說：「總統肯定有看到我們，並認出我們。」由他領軍的舞蹈團表演了一段夏威夷草裙舞，向在夏威夷出生的歐巴瑪致敬。
藤原激動地表示；「當歐巴瑪總統提到小濱市時，我感動到全身都起雞皮疙瘩。」
歐巴瑪在演說中憶及他小時候曾到過位於東京附近、寺廟雲集的鎌倉市，他在那兒「抬頭仰望有數百年歷史、象徵和平與平靜的青銅大佛」。
接著他打趣地說：「當時還是小孩子的我，對抹茶冰淇淋更感興趣。但日本人對一個遠離家鄉的美國青年所展現的熱情和好客精神，讓我畢生難忘。」
歐巴瑪的演說讓聽眾為之傾倒，許多人對他的個人魅力和他對日本的了解讚不絕口。
六十歲的主婦真木靖子（音譯）說：「他的聲音很好聽，講起話來也很自然。他有一種吸引人的特質。」
她六十六歲的丈夫真木明宏（音譯）也同意地說：「他的演講中提到各面向的議題，並解釋美國將如何處理這些問題。他希望成為我們的夥伴。他和之前的美國總統不一樣。」
（法新社╱翻譯：袁星塵）
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