Residents of Obama City cheer for their namesake president

One city in western Japan is looking forward to the results of the U.S. presidential election with more anticipation than most.

Obama City happens to share its name with the current president of the United States and residents have supported Barack Obama since 2006 - when he was still a senator.

Gift shops in the port city of 32,000 now sell Barack Obama themed candy.

And thanks to the local "Obama for Obama" support group, the town even has a small statue of the U.S. president.

Seiji Fujihara is the president of the group.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PRESIDENT OF "OBAMA FOR OBAMA" SUPPORT GROUP, SEIJI FUJIHARA, SAYING:

"While this is just my personal feeling, everyone sort of supports President Obama as if they were supporting a friend. So I think it's the wish of everyone in Obama City that he manages to get re-elected."

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 78 YEAR-OLD OBAMA CITY RESIDENT, IKIKO WADA, SAYING:

"Of course I want Mr. Obama to get elected. I think that everyone's supporting him fully here."

Keen to maintain their stellar status, if only by name, Obama residents are routing for a democratic win in the US