Obamu: v. To proceed optimistically despite challenging obstacles.

Really, Japan? According to CNNGo Tokyo, the Commander-in-Chief has gotten his own verb, after it was passed around on a Kyoto University mailer and mentioned on Twitter. Once.

Apparently this sort of thing isn't unheard of. Back when President Bush (the first) went and visited Japan, he lost a tennis match to Emperor Hirohito and later that evening at a dinner party, he ブシュした (Bushu shita) -- did the Bush thing and vomited in public.

Of course, these words never really made it into the public's lexicon, as most people have never even heard the terms, especially college students, where the phrase "obamu" is supposed to be popular. Perhaps I should start using it in my daily conversations? Perhaps I can keep the word alive!

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

lyfeforce

Considering some of the stances some of the blogs have been making, Obamu could have easily meant "being unknowledgeable and weak".

PBz0r

So instead of ganbare, everyone in Japan will tell eachother to "do like Obama" from now on?

Pangloss

@lyfeforce: Yes, but those "some of the blogs" will say literally anything. The same guys that criticized Barry for not observing "proper protocol" when meeting the Queen of England (no touching!), are now howling that his bow to Emperor Akihito is capitulation, or something, rather than just what you do when you meet the Emperor.

With regard to "ブシュした", it's disappointing for me, a student of languages, that such a specialized verb didn't really make it, but I don't think many people have an opportunity to work "to vomit into the lap of foreign dignitaries" into their everyday lexicon. So, that's understandable.

Borjones

I just think, It's nothing wrong or "weak" at being polite and trying to "fit" into another culture, better trying than being an asshole.

I love the way japanese people are ^^

Brad Rice

@Pangloss Actually, it just means to vomit in public -- not necessarily on the lap of foreign dignitaries. Again, it's not something most piss-drunk salarymen do, so I can still see why it didn't catch on.

I wonder if we can come up with others, like "タフつ: To get stuck in a bathtub."

synaptic flow

Blah

Pangloss

@Brad: again, the problem here is that no Japanese people (sumo wrestlers probably have custom bathrooms) are fat enough to actually タフちます. クリントンする, on the other hand...

AMERICA: We let weird people be in charge of things!

Brad Rice

@Pangloss Fine. Can we use it for trust-busting, then? Taft did bust more trusts than Teddy Roosevelt.

There's also ジェファソンする: To have illicit relations with your slaves.

Pangloss

I like this game.

ロゼヴェルトする and 小泉する are, of course, synonyms meaning "to be unbelievably badass".

Jon Snyder

Borjones

@Jon Sugoi!!! =D

Rewarp

All hail Britannia!

KajunBowser

Bow over 45 degrees to the Emperor, and they give you a verb. Interesting. I'd use it.

Kagami

Hooray for Obama!
As he is a legend and far better than republican scum.

That guy

@Kagami

Hooray for Obama! He further imposes a failed system on a working system of government!