Top 10 reader comments about President Obama's bow to Japan's Emperor Akihito

A post on our Top of the Ticket blog today about President Obama’s greeting of Japan’s Emperor Akihito has already generated over 1,000 comments from readers.

This weekend, the president has done a lot of bowing to show respect on his first Asia tour as president. The photo above was taken after the president gave a speech in Tokyo's Suntory Hall. However, the emperor's bow was a little different. Times staffer Andrew Malcolm, who wrote the post, allowed the photo (and the video) of Obama’s gesture to speak for itself -- see it here.

We mostly enjoyed what readers had to say about the president’s greeting -- a mixture of outrage and patriotism, snarky one-liners and more serious diatribes.

Here are the top 10 best comments so far (leave your own below):

1. Mitch wrote: Obama to Emperor of Japan: "May I shine your shoes, Sir?"
2. Plain Jane wrote: Obama WASN'T bowing - He SAW a Japanese Yen on the floor and went to pick it up because it might be Worth More Than Our Dollar!
3. Veteran wrote: Was that before or after he appologized for World War 2?
4. bmcc wrote: Palin would have winked at him. You betcha!
5. Maripo wrote: I'm surprised he didn't curtsy.
6. MP wrote: Whatever happened to the good old days when we could count on a Republican in the White House to puke on foreign dignitaries?
7. marty1234 wrote: I wish are first black president had been a rapper at least he'd have some attitude...
8. Wax on wax off wrote: Look eye! Always look eye! -Mr. Miyagi
9. helen roach wrote: I wonder why they didn't run the dust mop over the floor. It would have looked much nicer in the picture.
10. Xavier wrote: See, Obama is not a Muslim. He's a shintoist.

What are your comments on the president’s bow to Japan’s emperor? Tell us below.

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: President Obama after a speech at Tokyo's Suntory Hall. Credit: Reuters

Comments

[SweetAdeline]

I'm disgusted by an American President showing respect to the Japanese. We should be crapping on everyone's culture like we did in the good old days. He should just make his eyes look squinty and yell "Ching Chong Ching Chong" like a real man.

[Bill]

It is all diplomacy folks. The crux of the trip is to establish very good relations with Japan. It does NOT demean the President or the USA for this symbolic warm greeting to take place. It may very well enhance the trips results. Just see it in this light. Not a big issue nation-ego wise.

[YOU GOT PLAYED AMERICA]

WOW. The Gerbil is a disgrace to our country in the eyes of the world.

[Gail in Tokyo]

Bowing is the most common form of greeting in Japan. If you notice, the emperor is shaking Mr. Obama's hand. Not many people get to touch the emperor. It was a sign of mutual respect.

[Joe American Shaking His Head in Disbelief]

It's one thing to do a gentle bow as individuals from certain cultures in Asia exchange upon greeting one another. To do a small bow as a courtesy would be acceptable.

It's another thing to bend 90 degrees like a right angle, like a subject of a King or Emperor.

So far I am aware of two such episodes-- Saudi Arabia and now this.

What other world leaders are on the list to whom he intends to genuflect.

What's next? Apologizing for winning WW2 and saving Europe and much of Asia?

[Joe American Shaking His Head in Disbelief]

When the President of the USA is visiting, YOU honor HIM by greeting him according to American style, a firm handshake, looking him in the eye. And, if you wish, a small mutual bow is fine. For Obama to come before the Emperor and genuflect like he is a subject of that Emperor is disgusting. What is wrong with him? He continuously diminishes American strength and honor world wide. And to not support a military increase in Afghanistan and do what the prior administration didn't do is downright wrong. If Afghan. was not fought correctly before, then GO IN THERE AND DO IT RIGHT IMMEDIATELY, DON'T TURN TAIL AND RUN AWAY OR NOT SUPPORT THE TROOPS.

[Saddened]

I suppose Obama believes that he is honoring the countries that he visits. But he is dishonoring our the patriots who fought the Revolutionary War so that our people did not have to bow to royalty.

He should know that the dignity of humanity is reasserted each time an American President greets aristocracy as an equal.

His polite bows to the Japanese in general are not wrong, but his flat-out subserviently deep bows to the Saudi King and the Japanese Emperor are insults to our nation.

Three more years of this clown.

[Rob]

Obam should have been facing the other way when he bowed... it would have been more accurate.

[Ralph Malph]

It is not a gesture of submission. It is a gesture of respect.

[Josef Princiotta]

Apparently someone didn't do their research. If you want to shake hands, shake hands. If you want to bow, bow. It is both incorrect and awkward to attempt to bow while shaking hands. Equally it is both awkward and incorrect to attempt to shake hands while bowing.

[Stephen]

Obama bowed the emperor didn't. I don't have a problem with him adapting to the culture but reciprocity is missing. Did he decide to do this on his own or was it discussed? In general, I think we have bigger problems to worry about other than bowing.

[Tim]

It wasn't a bow. He was apologizing for Pearl Harbor.

[Korekiyo Takahashi]

Americans are very honest. They just want their leader to be the #1 in the world. They just love their own country.

[ccc]

If you look at the video clip available on line, he made many smaller bows to both the emperor and his wife while they all were standing there. He reminded me of an overactive child with all that pent up bowing taking place. Sheesh. I am surprised he didn't just start cart-wheeling or something else just as clownish. Sort of like Stuart on SCTV. "Look what I can do!"

[repsac3]

The snark is cute (even some of the "I hate Obama" snark) but I'm looking for the facts, from a source whose reputation is based on telling the truth. (You know... Like a newspaper.)

"According to the US State Department Office of Protocol (or some other similarly august body who decides this kinda thing -- miss manners? --), Presidents cannot/can, but shouldn't/may/must bow (or show respect in some other culturally appropriate way that'll piss off the right) to foreign dignitaries."

Just the facts, LAT... I'm lookin' for the way it is, not more people's opinions about the way they think it should be...

[Kristin Lord]

President Obama is being courteous according to the norms of Japanese culture. I'm delighted to have a President that makes an effort to understand other societies, and I'm sorry that people are making a fuss about it.

[jagguy]

He was not bowing. Only bending over to shake the hand of a shorter person.

[Hissyspit]

So the racist 'shoe shining' comment is #1? Ugly.

Especially considering this is such a non-issue.

[Muscle Might]

It was a symbol of mutual respect. Bowing in Japan is a sign of politeness.

[E. Ferrari]

Racist and sexist comments among the "best"? Nice going, LA Times.

[sf94127]

The Global Citizen is providing A+ collateral for the Republicans. The GOP could not have a better resource than Global Citizen Obama.

[Abuben]

Take it easy, folks! Obama did make a mistake, but no foreign countries or peoples would think that the president was being subservient to the Japanese emperor. Which action cost more lives and money and reputation for America: Bush's wars or Obama's showing respect for a foreign leader? Something went wrong in America recently. Our yellow journalism, including the NY Times and the LA Times, tried to make people think that our president is soft toward Japan. I do not think so. In our relations with Japan, we are more like a bully than a beggar. Somehow many people feel insulted and shameful. WE are still the most powerful country, and our president is making efforts to make the world respect and love America. This time, he might be little bit too eager and unrest.

[William]

In Japanese culture bowing is a sign of respect. Now, I know the Republicans don't respect anyone except fellow isolationist-selfcentered-Christian-Birthers but Obama is trying to undo the damage Bush did.

[Tostitos]

I swear to see President Obama making rookie mistakes like this. Who does he have advising him on the customs of locations he visits? Does he wing it? He either needs to hire someone to advise him on customs, if he has no one, or he needs to fire the idiot he has, and hire someone that knows what they are doing.

I have no problem with bowing in this situation, but the execution was horrible.

Here is what he should have done
1) Very shallow bow, sort like gently knodding your head, only you are knodding your upper body.
2) Keep his hands to his sides. Mixing of two customs (shaking hands and bowing), just makes him look inept.
3) Keep his back straight.
4) Don't break eye contact.
5) Again just a shallow gentle bow, only a couple of degrees.

[Richard Ivey]

I suppose that most of the readers would have preferred that Obama give the Japanese dignitary the middle finger plus use some expletives about WW2.