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!