US presidential candidate Obama thanks Japanese town of Obama for support

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OBAMA, Japan - Obama has finally thanked Obama.

The fishing town of Obama in central Japan recently won worldwide fame for its fervent support for U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The town's citizens have made headbands, T-shirts and sweet bean cakes decorated with his portrait and the town's mayor even sent gifts.

Now, on the eve of crucial primaries in Texas and Ohio, the mayor of Obama - a town 400 kilometres west of Tokyo with a population of 32,000 - is all smiles after hearing from Obama the man.

Mayor Toshio Murakami said today he received a letter a day earlier from Obama in response to a letter, DVD and lacquerware chopsticks he sent the candidate more than a year ago.

Obama wrote that he shared "more than a common name" with the Japanese town. he said they shared "a common planet and common responsibility."

Supporters in Obama - which means "Little Beach" in Japanese - plan to gather at a community centre to watch a live broadcast of Tuesday's primaries.

© The Canadian Press, 2008