Wakasa Town, where Obama City was located, lay in Fukui Prefecture, facing the continent across the Sea of Japan and neighboring Kyoto.
Since ancient times, Obama City had been an important port along the Sea of Japan coast. Rich in cultural heritage from the Nara Period, it enjoyed a reputation as the Nara of the sea.
Even today, Obama City was fairly prosperous, with Japan's largest fish market, Tsukiji Market, located there. It was Golden Week, coinciding with the annual Mermaid Festival, and the city's streets teemed with tourists.
"Why does this city have so many signs of the former president?"
Uchiha Naruto stopped by the roadside and looked curiously at a freestanding sign on the street. It displayed a beaming face known throughout the world, flashing a mouthful of snowy-white teeth.
The sign looked rather old, though. Wind and sun had faded even the dark skin to white.
This was the third one he had seen along the way.
"Because this city is called OBM."
A few steps ahead of Uchiha Naruto, a mature woman with beautiful, long, wavy black hair turned back from chatting and laughing with Sakaki Namiru.
"Funny, isn't it? The Japanese pronunciation of Obama City. Because of that coincidence, back when I was little, the local tourism association even formed a support group for him, hoping to attract foreign tourists."
So that was it.
The land endured through the ages, but where could one find a hero like Sun Zhongmou now? Dance pavilions and song terraces-all their splendor was swept away by wind and rain.
That was already two administrations ago.
To think that a little seaside city in Japan still retained some of that bygone glow. It really did give one pause.
"Naruto, hurry up! Otherwise, we're leaving you behind!" Sakaki Namiru called.
On