News On Japan

Obama City, Japan explained

Nov 01 (ONLY in JAPAN) - This place is for real! A city in Japan called Obama. They must have named it after the former president, right?

Republicans can sigh a breath of relief as this Obama was here first. Obama City, Japan's history goes back centuries and the coincidence of phonetically having the same name as Barack Obama's last name is what makes the city stand out internationally. Oh, in case you're wondering, in Japanese, "Obama" actually means "Small Beach".

Like any town with such a unique coincidence, the city embraced it and made a strong bond with the Senator then President.

It started when Senator Obama landed in Japan and the immigration officer told him he was from Obama!

But take a step back from the last 10 years and you'll find another kind of city.

Obama City is located in Fukui Prefecture, about 70km from Kyoto on the Sea of Japan. It was the Gateway to Japan for centuries before the Edo period because it was the closest link to Kyoto from the Sea. The route used was called MACKEREL ROAD because SABA (Mackerel) was the most traded fish, delivered to Kyoto endlessly along with loads of other goods to and from the imperial city.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Cough medicine shortages have been ongoing for over a year in Japan, creating significant challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. Hospitals and pharmacies report dwindling stocks, with some relying on alternative solutions like medicated patches.

A renowned Japanese photographer based in New York, Yasuomi Hashimura, known for his groundbreaking contributions to American advertising photography, died after being pushed on the street by a man.

A wake for Princess Yuriko of Mikasa was held at her residence within the Akasaka Estate, attended by members of the Imperial family, including Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress.

A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.

China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. (NHK)

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

Touchless harassment, a form of obscene behavior that does not involve physical contact, is drawing increasing attention in Japan. Last month, Kyoto Prefectural Police arrested a man for persistently sniffing a girl's hair.

The 'Itami Madan' festival promoting multicultural harmony across national boundaries was held on Saturday in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture, featuring the 'janggu,' a traditional Korean drum.

A suspicious object feared to be explosive was discovered at a high school in Sapporo on the afternoon of November 22nd, causing temporary chaos. The object was found to have been brought to the school by one of its students.

A man with a distinctive snake-like tattoo on his face has been arrested for shoplifting and assaulting a convenience store employee in Tokyo. The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Masakatsu Echizenya, is accused of stealing items from a store around noon on November 15th and violently attacking the employee who confronted him.

Hifumi Kato, affectionately known as 'Hifumin,' has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records for the longest-running chess puzzle column in a magazine.

A male caretaker at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka has been sent to prosecutors on suspicion of stealing vegetables and fruits used as monkey feed.

Japan is facing a deepening crisis of poverty and inequality, with rising reports of 'invisible homeless' individuals and growing economic hardships among the population. Discussions over reforms to the country's tax and welfare systems have taken center stage, as policymakers grapple with how to provide meaningful support.

The operator of a strip theater in Osaka's Tenma district, advertised as "Western Japan's largest," has been arrested alongside nine others for exposing dancers' lower bodies to customers, police announced.