Obama Bows In Japan To Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In a scene that will likely be replayed on Sunday's political talk shows, President Obama bowed deeply to the Emperor and Empress of Japan on Saturday. The president's kowtow to the royal couple came on the second day of his Asian tour and before a private lunch with the pair in Tokyo.

An unnamed, senior Obama administration official told Politico Saturday that the president was observing protocol, saying, "I think that those who try to politicize those things are just way, way, way off base." During his speech in Tokyo, President Obama reaffirmed the United State's alliance with Japan and called himself America's first Pacific President.

In April, the president was criticized by the National Republican Senatorial Committee for bowing to Saudi King Abdullah at a G-20 meeting. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs declined to call Obama's gesture to Abdullah a bow, instead saying Obama "bent over" to shake hands with the king.

Anticipating drama, the Los Angeles Times wrote a blog entry Saturday about the bow. The LA Times detailed former Vice President Dick Cheney's (non-bow) handshake with the Japanese emperor and pointed to the "comedic" drama surrounding former Presdient Clinton's bow to Akihito.

WATCH:

PHOTOS:

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Comments

[PRONESE]

A YouTube Video Compilation follows:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U6fL7Y4BZA
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Posish!
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R/ PRONESE

[Mario Valenzuela II]

The problem with the Obama's bow is this: Obama bowed wrong. Bowing in Japan has strict rules of etiquette depending on your social status compared to the person you are bowing to, your gender, your humility, if you are seeking employment, etc.

[adamNsteve]

I disagree. The bow should never have taken place. Americans should not bow to any ruling monarch, or any member of a royal family - or curtsy for that matter. It is tradition that comes straight from our Revolution.

One need not be a member of the worship Palin & Beck crowd to understand this.

I attribute no "foul" motive to his bow, rather I believe it to have arisen out of a desire to show cultural awareness and sensitivity as well as respect.

That being said. It was still wrong, just like it was wrong for Nixon to bow to Hirohito, etc. etc......

[adamNsteve]

One may be a progressive and still be dismayed when any POTUS – Republican or Democrat – bows before foreign monarchs. Americans DO NOT BOW to members of any royal family. Remember everyone… Revolution… Abolish the monarchy…. democracy…. coming back yet?

[roannamac]

You're right. Americans are rude, obnoxious, ignorant, unyielding, stupid, the joke of the world, unread, lacking in any knowledge about other cultures, unaware and incapable of simple politness. You must be proud.

[Angelic11]

Adamnsteve is so right! Why make excuses...­it was an embarrassment to Americans ....period­. I love, adore and respect Obama but he has got to represent us properly and that DEEP bow was humiliating to Americans, even if progressive won't admit it.

[adamNsteve]

Your comment itself is all the things you claim mine to be and more. Name calling - trashing someone if you will - does not address the issue.

It seems your problem is with Americans in general, and not any particular opinion any given American may have, be that American Republican, Democrat or Independent.

When you comment in such a fashion, you are not to be taken seriously.

[Billy D]

He was checking to see if the Emperor needed a shine.

[adamNsteve]

You may repeat yourself as many times and for as long as you wish.... That makes nothing that you say true. Because you are wrong, but are not willing to acknowledge it (if your read through my comment history you would quickly disabused of your error), your repeated attempts to disparage me and deny who I am makes you look pathetic.

I invite anyone who has read through these sniping comments to view my comment history.

As for you TweezeBC, I neither need nor care for your judgment.

"ROFLMAO" indeed!

[sandi57]

Since this was not a kowtow in the primary sense, this shrill use can only indicate disparagement. I am sorry to see HuffPo join the Republican pile-on of any diplomatic action by our President. Take a deep breath, watch the video, and put your protractors away!

kowtow n.
1. The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground.
2. An obsequious act.

[JohnUSA]

He bowed because the dude is tiny and he needed to shake his hand.

[Peal]

Apparently the moderatYou are correct janie.

Why do republicans allow their hypocrisy to be so obvious?

Here is Nixon bowing to Emperor Hirohito. Remember Hirohito, emperor of Japan during World War 2. You know the people that bombed Pearl Harbor and kill 2300 military personnel.

The same link shows Eisenhower bowing to De Gaulle. Remember De Gaulle, president of France. The country republicans love to hate.


http://mediamatters.org/research/200911160014?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mediamatters%2Flatest+(Media+Matters+-+Latest+Items)
or working today for HP is republican.

[EHooch]

First off, I think Bush W was a HORRIBLE president, and I RARELY defended him. (Just in case anyone wants to call me a right-winger loon for criticizing Obama.)

When I look at the picture of the president bowing to the Japanese Emperor, I immediately think what the H is he doing? He looks uncomfortable and off-balance. Why would ANY head-of-state make such a gesture to any other head-of-state? I don't believe the president is naturally any better than the heads-of-state of other countries, but he is definitely not subservient to them.

I am a student of aikido, which utilizes the Japanese bow at the beginning of class and at the beginning and end of each "fight." Students of equal rank incline the head and upper body SLIGHTLY and do NOT shake hands. The proper thing for the president to do IMHO would have been to extend his hand for the handshake, shake hands, drop his hand to his side, and then bow SLIGHTLY, as the emperor did. Such a show of respect is natural and SHOULD not cause people to criticize. The display the president gave made him look terrible.

[Peal]

Why is this not being posted?
You are correct janie.

Why do republicans allow their hypocrisy to be so obvious?

Here is Nixon bowing to Emperor Hirohito. Remember Hirohito, emperor of Japan during World War 2. You know the people that bombed Pearl Harbor and kill 2300 military personnel.

The same link shows Eisenhower bowing to De Gaulle. Remember De Gaulle, president of France. The country republicans love to hate.


http://mediamatters.org/research/200911160014?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mediamatters%2Flatest+(Media+Matters+-+Latest+Items)

[valley boy]

When in Rome...kic­k the pope in the shins. When In Texas...ho­ld hands with the shiek.

[jdrourke]

Nice comment! Well said...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/dear-dick-cheney/

[EHooch]

Eisenhower bowed. Nixon bowed SLIGHTLY. Obama KOWTOWED.

[sonoffestus]

Look up KowTow, you will find you are wrong.

[jmehyland]

This is not an issue specifically about bowing. It is appropriate application of local tradition. Our president show respect and deference as appropriate per local custom but never subservience (even if local custom requires). For example in England a bow to the Queen (or King) is a sign of subservience. That bow is not appropriate. Same thing with kissing the ring of the Pope for instance. In Japan a bow is a common greeting. Jeez it is so common most Japanese people will even bow to each other when talking on the phone (I even found myself doing it after a year or so).

The problem many people are having here (myself included) is to a small extent the lack of knowledge of the implication of local custom. But to a larger extent (if one is indeed keeping an open mind) is the pattern of a what seems to be excess deference. My president needs to be respectful (in most cases I would exclude some countries) to other leaders, but at the same time stand proud for America. He (we) neither owes specific appologies nor arrogance when dealing with foreign leaders.

In the end in politics it is not what you intend to say, but what people hear.

[jmehyland]

Having lived in Japan for 3 years myself, I have no problem with the simple idea of the bow. The problem is the manner and degree. The level of this bow is a sign of significant subservience (it is only short touching your forhead to the ground which would only be used in the utmost formal shows of respect). Our president should consider himself on equal footing with the leader of every other country. As the chief ambasider of this country he should be better versed in local etiquitte and its implications.

[Eagleman]

There is nothing wrong in Bowing to foreign leaders.

We all should get use it.
This a good practice opportunity for our President.

With the current state of economy very soon we will be begging for food and money with all the nations like China, Russia and India.

[xypher0725]

He bowed to him...only to tower over him...ah, if only the right wing would apply their logic to every instance.

[janie@atthelake]

Big deal...its a custom ...and besides Nixon did this as http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=5c8f4325f5d81345&q=hirohito%20source:life&prev=/images?q=hirohito+source:life&ndsp=12&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-a:en-US:official&sa=N&start=12&um=1

[quacktastic]

He didn't go prostrate like Obama! It is a sign of submission.

[DragonBuddha06]

The right's complaining about a bow? Wasn't Bush holding hands and kissing on the Saudi PM?

[quacktastic]

That was a mutual sign of respect for that culture--mutual being the key word here. Had he kissed his ring or bowed down to him like Obama then it would be a sign of submission.

[Angelic11]

it's not just the right...at­hem (cough cough)