Worldwide, well-wishers mobilize for inauguration - I don't think this happens very often

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/uselection/2009/January/uselection_January78.xml§ion=uselection

20 January 2009

OBAMA, Japan – Hula dancers readied for the stage in a small Japanese city that coincidentally bears his name. Children from his former school in Indonesia were to sing for a gathering well-wishers. And in Hong Kong, Americans prepared to party into the night.

Across Asia, and the world, people gathered Tuesday to mark the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

In one of the kick-off events, the Japanese town of Obama put up stages outside a local Buddhist temple for an “Obama for Obama" event, featuring the hula dancers Obama was born in Hawaii, and hula is popular in Japan and speeches by local dignitaries.

The town has been big on Obama all the way from the primaries. After his election, more than 1,000 people turned out for a raucus celebration. Obama, which means “little beach," has a population of 32,000.

The town's businesses have pumped out Barack Obama sweet bean cakes, chopsticks, T-shirts, fish burgers, neck ties, and Obama Noodles marked “For world peace and stability." Most items depict only the back of his head, to avoid accusations of pirating his image.