The depth or angle of U.S. President Barack Obama’s bow — and handshake — with Japan’s Emperor Akihito has become a heated on-line topic, with sides arching into political camps on whether the greeting went too far — literally – or was appropriate based on customs and culture.
I don’t pretend to be an expert on bowing in Japan, but a few basic rules of thumb, or backbone, are: the more important a person you are greeting, the deeper and longer you bow, with hands generally at one’s sides; and multiple purposes can be served by this act including greeting as well as displays of respect, recognition, apology or gratitude.
While no one called the president’s bow an expression of apology or thanks, a number of blogs examined his and other U.S. leaders’ historical bent in stooping to diplomatically conquer, with a few labelling the U.S. commander-in-chief ”O-Bow-Ma”.
The Fox network and the Los Angeles Times blog offered details of Obama’s and other official U.S. greetings with the imperial family, including a photo of Vice President Dick Cheney shaking Akihito’s hand, and one posted a comment that bowing and handshaking should not be done simultaneously.
A blog from ABC news Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper, citing an academic friend, says both sides have it wrong, as the bow was not over — or under — the top in precedence, although it did not display the cultural understanding intended, rather weakness in Japanese terms.
The Huffington Post, meanwhile, seeming to anticipate a “bow row” ahead, noted criticism Obama had already received for a greeting of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah in April, with Republican Senators blasting him and the White House calling the president “bent over” to shake hands but not in a bow.
Rounding out coverage, Japan’s Sankei Shimbun/MSN on-line carried news of the Fox report that Obama’s bow was too low for a head of state as well as the comparison to Cheney’s 2007 Akihito handshake, adding a slate of imperial photos with slightly different angles and framing.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Jim Young
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It’s good that he respects the culture of Japan. After all, he’s visiting Japan, not the other round.
- Posted by scheng1It does look funny to bow and to shake hands at the same time. I guess the Emperor of Japan must be very embarrassed as well. He probably did not expect Obama to bow, that’s why he offered to shake hand.
obama did not bow properly.thus, he offended the president of china. I will not “suck it up”, Marcus!
- Posted by Obamasucks3 cheers for PRESIDENT BUSH! 3 boos for Sucker obama!
just another jellyfish in japan
- Posted by ilaughatuWell, judging from the photo it is obvious that Obama is:
a) Showing respect to the head of another country,
b) Looking for a lost contact lense, or
c) Trying to hide the fact he threw his back out on the flight over.
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and go with option A. There is nothing wrong with showing respect to a foreign monarch. Obama’s bowing is nothing to complain about, and it is nothing but a storm in a teacup.
After all, there are plenty of other things (foreign, economic and healthcare policy) which represent legitimate complaints to make about Obama.
- Posted by AnonDOES ANYBODY REALLY THINK THIS BOWING PRESIDENT MEANS ANYTHING TO THOSE PEOPLE WELL YOUS BETTER WAKE UP IT MEANS ZERO
- Posted by louYou folks waste a lot of time writing silly stuff that has no relevance for politics or economics. I guess having being wrong on all the important issues of the time you might as well as be silly and trivial.
- Posted by Jag RaoOK… Obama was right to bow in Japan, and I fully support him bowing. Bowing is a sign of respect in Japan, although you Americans are not accustomed to it. Obviously, Obama was trying to show respect for the Japanese Prime Minister… and I believe the Americans just have too big an ego to keep it in check. Who cares if your president bowed to a foreign one? Suck it up
- Posted by Marcus