The Japanese seem to really like President Obama. This goes beyond last year’s song from Obama City in Fukui Prefecture (it’s easiest to think of prefectures as being like states). Japanese youths are now using the President’s name as the verb “obamu”, which means “To ignore inexpedient and inconvenient facts or realities, think ‘Yes we can, Yes we can,’ and proceed with optimism using those facts as an inspiration (literally, as fuel). It is used to elicit success in a personal endeavor. One explanation holds that it is the opposite of kobamu. (which means to refuse, reject, or oppose).”
George Stephanopoulos called it a new honor “not quite the Nobel Peace Prize, but… a bit more hip.” James Fallows of the Atlantic points out that “It will be a good sign for Obama if his name continues to be used in this mainly-positive context.”
So how are we doing in Afghanistan? On health care reform? On the economy? “Obande imasu!” (We’re proceeding with optimism, despite the situation).