Obama is beautiful world...

And my randomness just seem to continue. I unexpectedly found myself with a free day and somehow convinced myself that a day trip to the heart of Japanese Obamamania was the most constructive use of my time.

Miraculously I actually woke up at 06:30, which is ridiculously early given that I usually start work around midday at the earliest. As with any adventure I had to overcome my fair share of obstacles. Firstly figuring out how to get to a small, previously unknown town that doesn't even merit inclusion in the current edition of Lonely Planet Japan.

Then of course there was the usual language barrier debacle - which platform to be on, what time to be on it, changing from one carriage to another because somehow it wasn't express (despite being the same train...). Then there was the stopover in Tsuruga and buying more tickets. Sadly there was no ticket machine which meant I had to resort to human interaction (read more broken Japanese cum English with Shona thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately my particular dialect only served to create a mini sense of pandemonium at the station, but I can safely report that there were no casualties).

Finally I reached the glorious town of Obama and was very kindly received by the lady at the visitor's information centre. She was actually very sweet, initially apologising that she could not speak English. Despite the lack of linguistic common ground I painlessly managed to ask for an English map and hire a bike. (Editor's note: Result!) She even shrieked somewhat approvingly as I circled my intended destinations for the day, which included several shrines, temples and the birthplace of a Confucian scholar.

Everything was going more or less according to my non existent plan when the weather, as it often does in coastal towns, took a rather savage turn for the worst. Believe me when I say that its not cool being on a bike in a random part of a town you don't know in the middle of downpour complete with gale force winds. Well maybe not gale force but you get the point. Thank goodness for fish market I sought temporary refuge in. (Editor's note: That will be the last time you hear me thanking fish for anything, at least I hope so).

I set off again on my tour again as the weather settled (for ten minutes or so). Some of the shrines I came across were breathtakingly dotted along the coast line with the picture perfect mountain ranges in the background topped by vast woodlands that created a sort of natural collage as the autumn leaves began to turn. I'd be lying if I said the rain didn't hinder my ability to get around the town. But it certainly didn't put a damper on my random adventure.

A few weeks ago my father asked that I visit the town of Obama, which he had spotted on the news and buy him a T-shirt. Being me, I thought I'd do one better and hunt down the man who had more or less single handled started this Obamamania, Seji Fujihara (pictured below)

After my second trip to the Hotel Sekumiya, Fujihara-san's place of formal employment, I finally met the self styled Secretary General of the "Obama for Obama" support group. Fujihara-san was a very welcoming and pleasant man, who after presenting me his business card (a rather formal process on this end of the world) showed me his Obama exhibition, including a letter from the President-elect himself. We then moved onto what I can only describe as a mini photo shoot (the receptionist who was taking the pics was surely an up and coming paparazzi camerawoman in training). To top it all off I got a campaign sticker to mark the occasion from the Secretary General. Yep that's right. Me and the Sec. Gen, tight like that.

I got my memorabilia, dad will be getting his t-shirt (along with his membership to the support group - although he doesn't know about that development yet). All in all not a bad day if I do say so myself.



p.s. If you have a moment, check out the "Obama is beautiful world" song some of the town's residents put together on YouTube. It may seem a little cringeworthy at first, but hey there's nothing wrong with being proud of where you're from:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fRB2wFhXIPs