President Obama has bowed his way into controversy yet again.
Pictures of the U.S. president bowing deeply to Japanese Emperor Akihito during a state visit to Japan have incensed some commentators, who say the U.S. head of state should not lower his head before foreign crowned heads. 
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly, hit with questions about the bow at a regular news briefing, appeared stumped.
“I saw I’m sure for what it was intended, which is a sign of respect to the emperor. But I don’t have anything from the State Department on it,” Kelly told a news briefing.
Kelly dismissed reports that some critics have gone so far as to call the bow a sign of treason as “a bit extreme,” but said he would check into exactly what sort of protocol briefing the president gets before meeting foreign leaders overseas.
Obama has sparked critical comment with a bow before — there was some harrumphing after Obama lowered his head before Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah at a G20 meeting in April.
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Photo credit: Reuters/Jim Young (Obama greeted by Japan’s Emperor Akihito at Imperial Palace)
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This is emperor Hirohito’s son. Many of these democratic obama worshipers like to point out the fact that past leaders did “bow” however they never bowed as deeply (which is a very big element in their culture) and all received a reciprocating bow. Making it a bow of equals. Were as neither the saudi nor the Japanese monarch gave such a bow to obama.
Hirohito and the Japanese empire were just as bad as Hitler and the Nazis. Many of these obama worshipers fail to understand the pacific war and the atrocities in Asia caused by th Japanese. Perhaps if Hitler had a son who was named honorary fuhrer of germany and obama bowed down to him SUBMISSIVELY that is without receiving a reciprocating bow they would understand the greater context behind this event.
This shows that obama has been disrespected by both the Japanese and the saudis by his own invitation. The Americans revolted against the british so they would have to subservient to any royalty which is an anathema to the “all men are created equal” phrase written in the declaration of independence.
- Posted by maxHonestly, I dont think the 90 degree bow is appropriate. Coming from Asia where bowing is much of a norm, I observe that a gentle, light bow suffices if we are talking about showing respect or upholding proper diplomacy with a Head of State.
- Posted by AndrewObama has in this instance gone abit too far and its a fair question to ask ‘what sort of White House protocol briefing/ training the President is getting.’
Although I agree it is respectful to observe some basic protocols especially when meeting a Head of State, I offer here a slightly different view- In Asia and I believe to the majority of the world as well, excluding Japan, a light bow is all Heads of State/ Governments should be according to each other.
Obama’s 90 degree stance has nothing to do with his/ the Emperor’s height. This unfortunately looks and means ‘kowtowing’ (bootlicking) in the majority of our cultures or extending a deep apology to someone.
If my Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong did the same, I have to admit that I and many other Singaporeans would feel ashamed if not slightly dissapointed that our PM had to ‘bend over backwards’ this much to a foreign Head of State, plus, it doesn’t look good in our culture for someone to do that.
Hence, I understand the dissapointment felt by many Americans due to this gesture. This has nothing to do with American superiority/ Japan’s position as a losing World War II Axis power. It has to do with proper protocols under foreign affairs and diplomacy which surely doesn’t call for any Head of Government/ State to compromise so much on his/ her own culture and sensitivities just to please the other side.
The deep bow expressed by President Obama when he went to the Palace in Tokyo seems to become an issue in the United States.
What is wrong? And what is the news? Isn’t it nice for President being respectful to a head of state and its people?
A spokesman of the State Department correctly commented that the bow was intended to show respect for the Emperor and the people of Japan. This blog think that the couteous manner impressed Japanese people and it’s been very well received in Japan.
Her Majesty Empress shaked hands with President even though shaking hands is not a Japanese custom. To stick to the western way of showing respect by shaking hands is only a prejudice and Japanese nationals noticed that President Obama is never narrow-minded and rude to stick to one’s own rules and culture as a former President and then Japanese prime minister pretended to peform an Elvis music instrument.
President Obama showed fully that he is a man of words and dignity over substance and action. He is the person who can understand the true meaning of humbleness even though or because he is truly the top person of the most strongest country on this planet earth.
The writer of this blog is not an American but I would say, come on now, for the criticising part of the society to know that there are plenty of things to debate over and restore the trust which was destroyed by the neocons and market fundamentalists both in the United States and Japan, between the most important allies in the world.
I could see in the courteous and elgant manner of President Obama, an audacity of hope as his biography book title suggested and a new born strength of the United States of America. Utterly there should not be any consciousness of master servant relationship on both sides of the Pacific ocean, and there should remain a solid mutual respect.
- Posted by OrwellI remember seeing a photo of Dick Cheney as he appeared at the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Between the somber, dark-coated world leaders at the outdoor ceremony, there he slouched, resplendent in a green parka embroidered with his name and featuring a fur-trimmed hood, laced brown hunting boots and a knit ski cap reading “Staff 2001.” Even Lynne Cheney looked a little irritated by his wood-cutter‘s attire.
- Posted by StevePresident Obama showing a little respect for other country’s leaders is, in a way, apologizing for eight years of in-your-face arrogance by his predecessors. It takes a better man to show a little humility than it does to act like the rest of the world can kiss our butts. And the people who criticize him for this are an embarrassment to this country as well.
Wow Eric. The pot calling the kettle black with assumptions.
You seem very thin skinned because go to such great lengths to disprove what is said. It makes no difference to me. If you were a real listener to Beck, then you would realize he is extremely critical of the democrats and republicans. He was as, and is, as harsh on Bush as he is Obama. He rightly admits, and backs up with fact, his concern over the direction of this country with the current president. He does his research. Many liberal democrats have admitted this, even when they (like you) hate what he has to say.
As for the rest of my news, I don’t feel the need to justify to you where and when I get information. You are very far off the mark is as much as you deserve.
As for the story at hand. It is my humble opinion our president is an embarassment to the United States. He apologizes for everything to everyone and he acts subservient to his “equals”. (You don’t have to go into great detail that you vehemently disagree…I know your story…I keep hearing you justify your existence).
BTW, how many third world countries have you traveled to. My point is that we are the greatest country in the world. Too bad this president is working hard to destroy us.
- Posted by TCAssumptions galore from TC once again. Yes TC I am from from Maine, I only wish there was a way to scan the the stapled in visa pages of my passport and post them here. You also assume that I would have been upset if Bush had done what Obama did on his visit to Japan - wrong again. It would have been refreshing to see Bush show a little humility. The other assumption that is off, where I get my news. Granted I don’t watch Fox news but I choose not to have cable TV, cable internet but not TV. However I do listen Rush and Beck on the radio (friends close-enemies closer right?) and my news sources run the gamut from NPR to the Fox website. No one can be informed if they only hear what they want to. You should try it sometime, listen to NPR I dare you, they at least still have actual reporters in the field and news bureau around the world unlike ANY of the 24hr news channels who feel it’s OK just to spout what they think instead of what is true. Watch the Daily Show, in some surveys voted to be the most trusted source for news. What does that say about Fox, MSNBC and CNN?
- Posted by Eric HYes another ignominious venture by Obama to again be confronted buy the reality that nobody is mesmerized by his cringing appeasement.So he will return home again with nothing achieved,and his tail between his legs,and his hand still a little bit sore after having his knuckles rapt about the additional borrowing that is worrying our bankers the Chinese.
- Posted by brian leeAdam. Then why didn’t the emperor show respect by reciprocating the bow? It’s insane that it was a one way bow. It shows Obama as subservient to the Japanese emperor.
Respect is a two way street and the Japanese emperor should know the customs of his country.
Ah, I know what you are thinking. The Japanese emperor doesn’t bow to anyone. Hmmm….then why should our president bow to him? I bet the emperor wouldn’t bow to the president if he came to our country.
Bottom line, it shows the world the weakness. Afterall, we are the greatest country in the world…
- Posted by TCPresident Obama was just showing due respect to the Japanese Emperor. Anyone who believes otherwise is just demonstrating why they aren’t qualified to provide an opinion.
Respect costs nothing and will most likely cause the other party to respect you in return.
Demonstrating a lack of respect will be seen as an insult and is guaranteed to provoke a hostile response.
Conservatives are just shooting themselves in the foot with their current display of idiocy.
- Posted by Adamthe emperor of japan is a reverent figure to the japanese people, just like the pope is to catholics. there are plenty of pictures of presidents bowing to the pope, why can’t he do the same for the japanese emperor? it’s courtesy for one, but obsequious for the other?
- Posted by joeConservatives are complaining that the gesture of bowing to the Japanese Emperor shows weakness. Weakness? Arrogance is the real weakness.
Imagine if Obama had turned, as he left, and said, “Goodbye, from the world’s biggest polluter!”
- Posted by getplaning