How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow (Updates with videos, pic)

(New UPDATE: Monday 5:02 p.m. OK, it's not funny if you work at the White House. But for everybody else a new video at the bottom of this post will provide some chuckles about how the rest of the world chooses to greet the Japanese Emperor. Hint: It's different than President Obama.)

(UPDATES: 12:22 p.m. Saturday. A brief news video has been added below, showing the greeting in this photograph. Contrary to some claims, the video shows no reciprocal bow by the emperor, who traditionally bows to no one. And we've added a file photo from 2007 of Vice President Dick Cheney greeting the Japanese Emperor at the same residence in a different fashion.)

How low will the new American president go for the world's royalty?

This photo will get Democrat President Obama a lot of approving nods in Japan this weekend, especially among the older generation of Japanese who still pay attention to the royal family living in its downtown castle. Very low bows like this are a sign of great respect and deference to a superior.

To some in the United States, however, an upright handshake might have looked better. (See Cheney-Akihito photo, right).

Remember Michelle Obama casually patting Britain's Queen Elizabeth on the back during their Buckingham Palace visit? America's royalty tends to make movies and get bad reviews and lots of money as a sign of respect.

Obama could receive some frowns back home as he did for his not-quite-this-low-or-maybe-about-the-same-bow to the Saudi king not so long ago. (See photo here)

How times change under Democratic presidents.

Back in 1994 when President Bill Clinton appeared to maybe perhaps almost start to bow to Akihito at a White House encounter, U.S. officials rushed to deny it was any such a thing. And the N.Y. Times chronicled the comedic drama here.

Akihito, who turns 76 next month, is the eldest son and fifth child of Emperor Showa, the name given to an emperor and his reign after his death.

Emperor Showa is better known abroad by the life name of Hirohito. He became emperor in 1925 and died in 1989, the longest historically-known rule of the nation's 125 emperors.

Hirohito presided over his nation's growth from an undeveloped agrarian economy into the expansionist military power and ally of Nazi Germany of the 1930's.

And, later, Japan became a global economic giant. Hirohito, along with Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who authorized the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, were much reviled abroad during World War II.

Historically, debate has simmered over how much of a political puppet Hirohito was to the country's military before and during the war.

Even after Democratic President Harry Truman ordered the two atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the summer of 1945, there were strong forces within Japan that wanted to continue to fight the Americans in the spirit of kamikaze suicide pilots.

But Akihito's father went on national radio, the first time his subjects had ever heard Hirohito's voice, and without using the inflammatory word "surrender," pronounced that the country must "accept the unacceptable." It did.

As the conquering Allied general and then presiding officer of the U.S. occupation, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, decided to allow Japan to keep its emperor as a ceremonial unifying institution within a nascent democracy.

Tojo, on the other hand, was hanged.

MacArthur treated Emperor Hirohito respectfully but, as his body language in this black and white postwar photo demonstrates, was not particularly deferential. 

(But then MacArthur was not known as a particularly deferential person, as Truman discovered just before firing him later. But that's another war.)

Akihito was born during Japan's conquering of China and was evacuated during the devastating American fire-bombing of Tokyo, which was built largely of wood in those days.

The future emperor learned English during the U.S. occupation, but, inexplicably, his father ordered that his oldest boy not receive an Army commission as previous imperial heirs always had.

Akihito assumed the throne on Jan. 7, 1989. Within weeks he began a series of formal expressions of remorse to Asian countries for Japan's actions during his....

...father's reign. In 2003, he underwent surgery for prostate cancer.

In 1959, Akihito married Michiko Shoda, the first commoner allowed to enter the Japanese royal family. That was two years before the birth of Akihito's future presidential guest, Barack Obama.

Joe Biden was already 17 by then. But he wasn't a senator.

(UPDATE: Here's a new video assembled by some clever College Republicans at the University of Connecticut. It's even got music and requires no explanation.

-- Andrew Malcolm

No bowing necessary here. Just click here to get Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Or follow us @latimestot. And we're also over here on Facebook.

Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty; David Bohrer / White House (Vice President Dick Cheney greets Emperor Akihito somewhat differently in 2007); Reuters (Obama bows to the king of Saudi Arabia earlier this year); U.S. Army Archives (Gen. Douglas MacArthur not bowing to Emperor Hirohito after World War II).

Comments

[Alan]

The cultural idiocy displayed in many of these comments is astonishing. Obama's bow has NOTHING to do with the fact that he's meeting a head of state. That's how you greet EVERYBODY in Japan.

As another commenter pointed out, his only faux pas was to offer his hand at the same time.

[Clyde]

He's in Japan for God's sake where a bow is a traditionally greeting. It's no different from a customary handshake in the US.

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/etiquetteinjapan/a/bowing.htm

[FedkaTheConvict]

For all who say Obama is simply following Japanese culture;

1. Why didn't Vladimir Putin bow to Hirohito?
http://www.life.com/image/56251775

2. Why didn't Hamid Karzai bow?
http://www.life.com/image/71376872

[Xerakis]

What a piece of stinking garbage Nobama is .... low end Un-American Kenyan ....disgusting !!!!

[Jeanne]

Noooo, he's not bowing. Just ask his staff -- he's checking to be sure his shoe laces are tied. He wouldn't bow, not our president. Couldn't b e.

[Todd]

Perhaps he was just checking if the Emperor's shoes needed a shine?

[Karen]

Mr. Obama needs to go to finishing school to learn how to properly greet fellow heads of state. Remember, "the rain in spain falls mainly on the plain." Does he not understand that bowing displays subserviance to the master you are bowing to? I believe that Obama is absolutely starstruck by real power, but it is an embarrassment that he drivels to the other heads of state.

[FedkaTheConvict]

Hu Jintao did not bow either.

http://www.life.com/image/81008616

[Johnny Five]

I'm in shock to some of your comments. Seriously, you folks aren't conservative or humble.

I'm a hardcore Republican and I actually am thankful Obama would show respect to other cultures.

While I don't agree with his policies, everyone (especially the Christian republicans) should show respect to everyone including those older than you.

You commie conservatives are a joke and I'm hopeful you will change your ways. Our society is crumbling and now I see why; even our conservatives don't show respect to their elders.

You vipers and fools...all of you.

[nick]

This idiot is an embarrassment.

[John]

From what I have read in the globe, Obama is no stranger to homosexuality so I would have to summize that he just likes being in that position.

[upset brit]

If you are going to bow to the Emperor and the King of Saudi Arabia then bloody well treat the Queen of England the same. I am by no means a royalist but whats good for one royal is good for all royals. Yes respect the customs of other countries but make sure it is ALL other countries. The Queen of England deserves as much respect as the Emperor. end of story!

[Socal]

Good grief! I voted for Obama. What an IDIOT he has turned out to be! My apologies to everyone for having voted for him. I won't make that same mistake in 2012!!!!!!

[Jim Beam]

Let him bow and if he wants a happy ending give it to him.

[Phil]

Barak Obama has shown to the world, that UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is the pride of this world, by bowing to an older man, who represents an ex enemy nation, now the friendliest ally. Barak Obama is a man of very high order who represents thinking, spiritual and warm hearted Americans who believe in genuine equality, freedom and true human values. This is a picture of most beauty as please know that the most spiritually rich people bow to others irrespective of their age or stature. Idiots like Bush and others like him are fruitless cactuses who just bite and bring disaster to its own people and the world in general by creating wars, disasters and enemies.
Barak Obama is trying to repair the wounds of the world and trying to heal our country.
He is absolutely the best president ever born in this great nation with many bigots, arrogant and spiritually bankrupt people yet so many great intellecturals, thinkers and wonderful people who contribute to the welfare of the world by their sheer existence.

THANK YOU BARAK OBAMA for representing a young, dynamic nation like AMERICA in the ancient lands of Asia.
REMEMBER that only the strongest can bow and show respect to others.

[Phil]

Barak Obama has shown to the world, that UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is the pride of this world, by bowing to an older man, who represents an ex enemy nation, now the friendliest ally. Barak Obama is a man of very high order who represents thinking, spiritual and warm hearted Americans who believe in genuine equality, freedom and true human values. This is a picture of most beauty as please know that the most spiritually rich people bow to others irrespective of their age or stature. Idiots like Bush and others like him are fruitless cactuses who just bite and bring disaster to its own people and the world in general by creating wars, disasters and enemies.
Barak Obama is trying to repair the wounds of the world and trying to heal our country.
He is absolutely the best president ever born in this great nation with many bigots, arrogant and spiritually bankrupt people yet so many great intellecturals, thinkers and wonderful people who contribute to the welfare of the world by their sheer existence.

THANK YOU BARAK OBAMA for representing a young, dynamic nation like AMERICA in the ancient lands of Asia.
REMEMBER that only the strongest can bow and show respect to others.

[MadisonQuest]

He's the first Black American President.
He's the first American President to apologize for our existence.
He's the first American President to bow before a Saudi King.
He's the first American President to bow before a Japanese Emperor.
How many more firsts can America afford.

[2012 NO-Obama]

To bad we can't impeach presidents based on stupidity. Bush may have done a lot of things wrong but he was right when he said Obama was not ready to be president. Lets pray the Republicans can get their act together and find someone to run in 2012 (and I don't mean Sarah Palin!!).

[Bill]

I agree with most of the posters that say he should not bow that low...I don't care what their customs are to a certain extent! We are Americans first and in our culture there is no bowing, no turbans, no gaudy clothes and so on. When we have foreign governments visting here I see a majority of them sticking to THEIR CUSTOMS.

[Jim R]

Ah, just a thought.

Since we won the war that they started, and then we helped them rebuild, I think that Japan’s leader should be bowing to our president.

[Mike the knife]

It's called proper protocol for the president not to bow to any foreign dignitary. It flies in the face of all founding doctrine and it demeans the office and it's people. Only a left wing ideologue would find that jesture acceptable. Name one other previous president that bowed prior to this one pierre?

[Jason]

I am curious- did the Emperor bow back, and if so, was it the same kind of bow that Obama gave?

If the Emperor did bow in the same way as Obama, then I see it as simply a cultural courtesy on Obama's part.

If the Emeperor, however, did not bow at all, or not in the same fashion as Obama, then Obama, as head of state, disgraced our country with his actions.

[Rick O'Shea]

Looks like the only people he doesn't bow to are the people who elected him and the King of Vatican City.

[Gary]

I just wish that more people in the US were taught of the atrocious actions of the Japanese during WW2. If you want to respect a nation's culture, that's fine. But you better really understand that culture before making that decision. It wasn't very long ago that this culture included barbaric, heartless actions.

It's also important to realize that they consider their race to be far superior to others. It's funny that the same people that look down on racism in the US want to respect it in other cultures....

[voiceoreason]

I suppose you mouth breathing, paranoiac, commie baiting red-staters forgot all about G W Bush kissing the Saudi King and holding his hand in front of photographers at the White House.

Obama is showing proper respect to America's allies after Bush squandered the world-wide sympathy shown toward the American people after 9-11. More people who like Obama= more people who like America=Americans benefit. As the Bush presidency has shown America cannot dictate to the world as it has in the past. Obama bringing people to work together FOR american interests is a much more viable strategy then the arrogance of the Bush years.

[Will]

Like everything else the empty suit does for the next 3 years, 2 months and 6 days, this is W's fault.

[ameranth]

Did the Japanese emperor bow back? Or maybe even bow first? If the bowing was likely to be one-sided, I think they should have met each other in private, got any bows out of the way, and then went together to a public photo-op.

[3918JOHN]

MR. PRESIDENT ,, YOU JUST BOWED DOWN TO THE ROYALTY FAMILY RESPOSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICAN LIVES DURING WORLD WAR 2 AS THEY TRIED TO WITH THE HELP OF NAZI'S TRIED TO CONTROL THE WORLD AND KILLED MILLIONS DOING JUST THAT AND OUR GENERAL MACARTHUR AND PRESIDENT TRUMAN NOR ANY OTHER PRESIDENT WOULD BOW DOWN TO THIS FAMILY THAT KILLED MILLIONS OF AMERICANS THE ONLY TO EQUAL THIS DISGRACE WAS YOUR BOW TO THE SAUDI KING

[Jasonn]

Another Obama apology tour? The way our Dufus In Chief has been bending over for foreign governments it would not surprise me if he had Michelle go out and buy him a set of executive Gucci knee pads.

[jabusse]

I guess THE Obama wants to treat the memory of the 500,000 or so american soldiers killed in WWII the same way he treats the ones serving our country in Iraq and Afganistan now. Like crap. Maybe He'll stop by Iwo Jima on his way back so he can piss on the memorial to our Marines.
GTH The Obama. We deserve better.

[Michael]

It was correct for zerobama to bow. He is lower after all.

[Question]

Customary? Why isn't the emperor bowing?

[Rick S]

Someone has to teach this neophyte that he's all emperor's EQUAL!!!!!! No bows. Look eye, Obama, always look eye!

[Real Patriots]

Candy M... We bow to CHINA everyday we shop at WAL-MART. :)

[AMERICAN VETERAN]

PreZbO is a disgrace to me as a veteran, what a putz..amature.. BO, how about you bow to the will of the American voter you looting power grubbing surrenderer... how many white flags do you have!!!!

[FireEagle]

Obama needs to learn diplomatic protocol. Being President of the United States means that the only place you bow is before God, for he is the supreme leader. By bowing to leaders of other countries he is subservient to them and is horrendous for our place on the world stage. He is also apologizing for the Atomic bombs that we dropped on Japan. If we had not, millions of Americans would be dead during the war. Millions of us would not be even born. Not only that but we would have a dictatorship in American run by the Japanese. Although we are almost a dictatorship now by a Muslin from Kenya. Ruled by the Democrats that are pushing us to socialism. We need to fire 98 percent of the politicians and start with fresh new breed that knows the constitution, the bill of rights and the federalist papers. These new group would realize that they work for us and not the other way around. That the free market system as propelled this country from 13 colononies to a world power in just over 200 years, where other countries that have been around for thousands of years still are trying to get out of being a third world power.

[Remember Pearl Harbor]

US Presidents do not bow - not to the Saudis, not to the queen, and not to some supposed deity. This man's father was responsible for Japan's attack on our nation, and they proceeded to rape and destroy half of Asia in the process. He should have been killed at the end of 1945.

Obama should stand tall and not disgrace our nation or apologize for anything. He should instead apologize to our citizens for what he is doing to our nation.

[Richard]

The issue isn't all black and white, all or nothing. The President lacks the nuanced balance of deference and leadership. He needs to show respect that also expects respect.

[Blue State Disgust]

How cartoonish does obama get?! That bow is so clown-like, he actually parodies himself for all time stupidity. This is the "elegance" the liberals point to with pride? Ha! He honestly looks like Stepin Fetchit.

[Sandraisafemaledog]

@Sandra

while you may have a good point at first. the rest of your statement is pretty ignorant and hate fueled.

learn to think for yourself.

[Osamas Pajamas]

It's unAmerican to bow and curtsy before "royalty" ---- one of the reasons the Yankees bounced the white trash British of the colonial period out of the New World.

[Molrom]

This is the equivalent to...."Yes'um Masser" Come on Mr. President!

[mike knight -- american patriot]

He Michelle ! This is the first time in "My" adult life
that I am "not" proud to be an American. You are both so unqualified !

[John Adams]

Why is this fool bowing to a foreign head of state? We haven't any need to bow to Japan, just as we have no need to bow to the king of England!

May I remind you all that my generation died by the wagon load in order to secure your liberty? That my generation fought for many years, endured untold hardships, and watched our friends and loved ones die, for your generation's freedom?

I'm turning over in my grave.

[krutch]

It is not a sign of respect. It plainly says, "Very low bows like this are a sign of great respect and deference to a superior." He should not be admitting that anybody is his superior in anything.

[Thoushalllnotbow]

D.I.S.G.U.S.T.I.N.G.

[Josh in San Diego]

3 more long years of this groveling. This man has neither pride nor class.

[robert]

Not only can he bow, you should see how he scrapes.

[CLC]

We owe them a lot of money, so our president has to bow.

They are our creditors. We are the debtor nation.

[Commager]

I understand that a president must show respect to other leaders, but does he have to show that much deference? I'm sure he could have found a way to acknowledge the emperor without, well, submitting to him.