奥巴马东京演讲迷倒日本人

US President Barack Obama charmed his Tokyo audience on Saturday with references to green tea ice cream, Japanese traditional hospitality and, of course, the small town that bears his name.

"I could not come here without sending my greetings and my gratitude to the citizens of Obama, Japan," said the president to the delight of the western Japan town that has turned its accidental fame into a cottage industry.

The ancient fishing town of 30,000, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Tokyo, has long supported its White House namesake, and some of its residents were in Tokyo to steal a glimpse of the president.

Wearing "I Love Obama" T-shirts, a small delegation braved rainy weather on a Tokyo sidewalk and waved as the presidential motorcade passed by.

"The president clearly looked at us and recognised us," said an excited Seiji Fujihara, who leads a dance troupe that on Friday performed a hula dance in honour of the president, who was born in Hawaii.

"I was so touched when President Obama mentioned our town," Fujihara gushed. "I felt goose bumps."

Obama in his speech Saturday recalled a childhood visit to Kamakura, a temple-studded town near Tokyo, where he "looked up at that centuries-old symbol of peace and tranquility, the great bronze Amida Buddha."

Then he quipped: "As a child, I was more focused on the matcha (green tea) ice cream. But I have never forgotten the warmth and hospitality that the Japanese people showed a young American far from home."

Obamania was alive and well among the audience -- where many hailed his personal charm and wide knowledge about the region.

"His voice was good. He spoke naturally. He has something that attracts people," said Yasuko Maki, a 60-year-old housewife.

Her husband, Akihiro, 66, agreed: "He covered every subject and explained how America will handle it. He intends to work as our partner. He is different from former US presidents."

上周六，美国总统巴拉克．奥巴马在东京发表的演讲让他的日本听众们为之倾倒，奥巴马在演讲中提到绿茶冰激凌、日本人传统的热情与好客，当然，还有那个与他同名的小镇。

奥巴马说：“既然来到日本，就不能不向小滨（Obama）镇的人们表达我的问候和感激之情。”这番话让小滨镇的人们欣喜若狂。这座位于日本西部的小镇利用与奥巴马同名的契机，已发展成为奥巴马主题产业之乡。

这个古老的渔镇拥有3万人口，距离东京大约400公里（250英里）。这个同名小镇（自奥巴马竞选总统以来）就一直支持他，镇上的有些居民还专程前往东京，只为一睹奥巴马的风采。

当天，一个小型代表团身穿统一的带有“我爱奥巴马”字样的T恤，冒雨站在东京的人行道上，向经过的总统车队挥手致意。

一个名叫藤原小泽的代表团成员激动地说：“总统明显是在看我们并且认出了我们。”上周五，藤原小泽带领的舞蹈团为出生于夏威夷的奥巴马献上了草裙舞表演。

藤原激动地说：“当总统提到我们小镇的时候，我太感动了，感觉鸡皮疙瘩都起来了。”

在上周六的演讲中，奥巴马回忆了他童年时期造访位于东京附近的、拥有众多寺庙的镰仓镇的经历，他在那儿“瞻仰象征和平和宁静的百年青铜大佛”。

接着他打趣说：“当我还是孩子的时候，我更感兴趣的是抹茶（绿茶）冰激凌。但我从未忘记日本人对一个远离家乡的美国孩子所表现出的热情和好客。”

奥巴马的演讲让他的日本听众们为之倾倒，很多人大赞他的个人魅力和对他对于日本的了解。

60岁的家庭主妇真木靖子的说：“他的声音很好听。说话很自然。他具有某种吸引人的魅力。”

她的丈夫，66岁的佐藤同意她的看法：“他的演讲涉及了各个主题，并解释了美国将如何应对。他想成为我们的合作伙伴，他和以前的美国总统不一样。”

Vocabulary:

cottage industry: a usually small-scale industry carried on at home by family members using their own equipment 家庭手工业

brave: to undergo or face courageously 勇敢地面对（They braved the storm to rescue their sheep. 他们冒着暴风雨抢救羊群。）

motorcade: a procession of motor vehicles, as in a parade 汽车行列；车队

hula dance: traditional Hawaiian dance usually performed standing with symbolically descriptive arm and hand movements and gracefully sensual undulations of the hips; it is also done in a sitting position 草裙舞

gush: to act or utter in an overeffusive, affected, or sentimental manner 动情地说，滔滔不绝地说（Everyone gushed over the new baby. 大家都滔滔不绝地谈论这个刚出生的婴儿。）

quip: to make a clever, witty remark 说俏皮话