[eXC3Kvnn]

I thought the bow was a bit excessive, especially since he is one head of state meeting another. On the other hand, I guess he was trying to reach out in a manner consistent with Japan's culture.

http://tinyurl.com/yftcotu

[bortycuz]

Obama's was a deep subservient bow. It was not a bow of respect between equalls and was not reciprocated by the emperor.

[bxxasxxa]

I thought the bow was a bit excessive, especially since he is one head of state meeting another. On the other hand, I guess he was trying to reach out in a manner consistent with Japan's culture.

http://tinyurl.com/yftcotu

The reaction is what is excessive. People read way too much into this gesture. They need to focus on the more important issues of such visits. There are more important things, aren't there?

[peveballery]

He probably didn’t know how to do it…they probably filled his head with "do this and do that" things before so he screw things up…happens to me all the time
And, of course, politics are boring so the media will focus on what mistakes the US president did .
I’m sure that if the bow would have been correct they would have found something to criticize anyway…..

[TeftyJokip]

Americans don't bow as a greeting.
Period. It's just not our thing.
Maybe a slight one with a handshake.
~Except in the Dojo of course.
Obama's gesture was a sign of respect. ~So what of he got it wrong.
Would Akihito give Obama a hug or a slap on the back were he in America?
Hell, most Japanese don't even bow in what they deem as the "correct" way these days.

[Scukonah]

The criticism seems to be from two main camps. The first camp criticises Obama for bowing too low, which I don't think really matters. Bowing's hard enough to do in a dojo let alone with a few billion people watching you. The Japanese emperor may have assisted him in saving face by lowering his bow, but hey, what are you going to to do? The second camp is critising him for bowing at all, to that I say who cares? I seriously doubt Akihito is going to go to bed tonight thinking "well, now the US is subserviant to Japan"

[sposicke]

I think it's fine.

Yes, as head of state and representative of the American people abroad, perhaps he should have done a better job of it... but the fact of the matter is, he tried to do something as a gesture of appreciation for Japanese culture. It seems like the Emperor did too; I don't imagine he goes around shaking a lot of Japanese people's hands, either.

[h98hhYxM]

As mentioned, the issues should be spotlighted by the media. However, given the spread of Japanese culture including food and, of course, Kendo, one would think Obama's advisors would have done a better job advising him. Also as noted, a bow is not accompanied with a handshake but is it possible the Emperor put his hand out so the Pres shook + bowed? 'Seems the latter is looking at the floor (red carpet?), maybe thinking "How did I get here....?" Disappointing. Like going for tsuki and scoring armpit.

[mralabama]

Why does it even matter at all? Obama was being polite and open to another culture. Just think of W. Bush who would have given Akihito a pat on the shoulder while shaking hands! Don't we have anything better to do than to nitpick at silly things like that? It shows goodwill and respect on Obama's part so that's all good.

[IACJdKfU]

Why does it even matter at all? Obama was being polite and open to another culture. Just think of W. Bush who would have given Akihito a pat on the shoulder while shaking hands! Don't we have anything better to do than to nitpick at silly things like that? It shows goodwill and respect on Obama's part so that's all good.

Actually, the article itself mentions Bush as being criticized for going too far to accommodate another culture as well.


As far as Obama's advisors... there have been other mistakes in the past; they're certainly not infallible. When Hillary Clinton went to Russia as the Secretary of State, she presented a Russian dignitary with a red button that supposedly said "reset" in Russian, as a joke and a reminder that America would like to start fresh. Instead, the button said "overdrive".

[ConoMadura]

He bowed too low. Yesterday, I couldn't get a nut off a stripped bolt and my wife's dead car battery is still stuck in the car.

I guess no one's perfect.

[Broorbbub]

As mentioned, the issues should be spotlighted by the media. However, given the spread of Japanese culture including food and, of course, Kendo, one would think Obama's advisors would have done a better job advising him.

I second this. It should be mandatory that every sitting president have at least
a Yondan within his cabinet.

[Fsfkkkjz]

Just think of W. Bush who would have given Akihito a pat on the shoulder while shaking hands!.

Not to mentioned G.W.'s Dad vomited on the Prime Minister.

[topbonuscasino]

Not to mentioned G.W.'s Dad vomited on the Prime Minister.

LOL, that's right! I remember seeing that video somewhere. Well my two cents on this was that Obama and his team are not very savvy when it comes to international affairs (he was too "busy" to attend the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall but did have time to try and sell Chicago for the Olympics...). Given that, Obama probably did what he thought was appropriate for the culture and went too far (literally...in that picture it looked as if he was searching for lost change).

I think a short bow and a handshake would have been fine as a recognition of both cultures way of greeting.

I enjoyed seeing everyone's opinion on this.

Thanks

[onlyfun_biziness]

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

There's nothing wrong in showing respect for different cultures when one visits another county, I think it's actually very normal to comply with the culture/rules of the country you visit.

If you make a mistake, so be it, it's the thought that counts.

[!!Aaroncheg]

Basically, some of the people wasting their time analyzing and writing articles about that need to work on getting rid of their virginities. lol

[sbrthrds]

Why does it even matter at all? Obama was being polite and open to another culture. Just think of W. Bush who would have given Akihito a pat on the shoulder while shaking hands! Don't we have anything better to do than to nitpick at silly things like that? It shows goodwill and respect on Obama's part so that's all good.

Hey Bush took Koizumi to graceland, but Koizumi is an elvis fan.

[scewDeasp]

I'm going out on a limb here but I think that because :
Obama is younger than the Emperor
The Presidency of the United States has been around since 1776(?). There were apparently Emperors of Japan when Christ was born.
I would think that the Kohai is Obama, therefore he bowed rather low. I also think that he's very tall compared to the Emperor and maybe bowed until he was on eye level.
I don't think that this was disrespectful or something.
What's the word in Japan on this by the way?

[fluoxet]

IMHO, it was appropriate as I am very sure it was meant to be a sign of respect, not of being subservient. This is after all the Emperor of Japan not the Prime Minister so the greeting should be more 'Japanese-like' and not of a political or a diplomatic standard.

Kudos to Obama because I am very sure that this act was pre-meditated and debated within the White House but he agreed to go with it to give the utmost respect to a culture. Just goes to show that he is very confident of himself and what he represents as the leader of the US and does not mind the thinking of the naysayers with superiority complexes because you don't have to feel and look superior to be superior.

[bubborn]

This is after all the Emperor of Japan not the Prime Minister...

Yeah, but he looks like the Emperor of the Lollypop guild.

If you ask me, Obama should have scrubbed his head, given him a balloon and a piggy-back ride on his shoulders.

That would have been SOOOOO CUTE!

Photo-op!

Sorry.
I just ate a chocolate bar.
Not responsible for my actions.