Since Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 US Presidential election, Obama City in Fukui Prefecture has experienced a boost in its fortunes, with increased visitor numbers bringing more income to the city's businesses. Inspired by this, the Niigata-ken city of Mugabei has decided to try and emulate Obama's success by playing up its links to the Zimbabwean leader.
'Everyone in the city is very proud of our links with President Mugabe,' explained City Council leader Hirofumi Tanaka. 'Despite his bad reputation, his country shares many traditions with our city, such as a history of pastoral agriculture, and a propensity towards violent intimidation of white people.'
Tanaka has proposed a cultural exchange in order to raise the city's profile in both Zimbabwe and Japan. 'There are a lot of retirees here whose wartime experience Mugabe-sama might find useful,' he explained. 'And in their turn, they're keen to build harmony and mutual understanding with the people of Zimbabwe, by educating them in the Japanese crafts of bayoneting and torture.'
