Obama Becomes Japan’s English Teacher
TOKYO — When Utako Sakai was changing the background music in her beauty parlor recently, she did not opt for the classical piano pieces she usually chose.
Instead, she picked her favorite CD: "President Obama’s Inaugural Address," released by Asahi Press, a Japanese publisher of language books. She says the speech lifts her spirits and helps her to learn English all at once.
"All our customers love it," said Ms. Sakai, who is based in Ayase City, in Kanagawa Prefecture, outside Tokyo.