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

[ann]

Yes, it is correct to bow to the Japanese...I did so as well when I worked closely with them in business. However, the President of the United States should never bow to a foreign leader. It is not correct protocol for a U.S. President and it is certainly a sign of deferring to one's superiority.

[Nick]

_THIS_ is news? Oh please, go back to your redstate.com

[Joe]

Oblowma is just showing his respect with a bow job.

[Bob H]

So what!! He was brought up to show respect for royalty which is something Wingnuts of either stripe just do not understand. It's called upbringing!

[John]

This was all about Obama covering his tracks for bowing to a Muslim (king) in Saudi Arabia. "We bow to all heads of state, don'tcha know?"

[Jefferson]

Wow, I think I am going to be sick........

[Fran Johnson]

If bowing is an expected form of greeting ... why isn't the emperor also bowing. Oh, now I get it ... The emperor is far superior to the American president.

[Big Bill]

If bowing is a show of greeting and respect, why didn't the emporer bow in return?

[yy]

the spectacle of a president who by secret agenda seeks to bring his country low. not quite as advertised and a deceiver of trust, with an AG buddy who cant wait to hurt us also. SHAME on those who voted for this and more so on the idol worshipping media, who deserve to go out of business for selling out America due to laziness.

[Dan]

Obama and his supporters are so concerned about him being sensitive to the people of foreign lands. I wish they were even nearly as concerned about his lack of sensitivity to his own country and it's people. He has no problem telling us how we should feel, or what we should do, but God forbid he insults other nations.

[Thomas Cambridge]

Hey Anthony Shin,

Hegemonic America? But not hegemonic Japan? Or hegemonic China? Or hegemonic Korea? America the Antagonizer? Come on... Your sociology lesson is incomplete and therefore, useless. By the way, do you see how low Akihito is bowing? Not so much. We all know that the Japanese would just as soon bow to their worst enemy than to a person of African descent.

And Obama is ridiculous. In way over his head or, in hs own words, WAY over his "pay-grade."

[Dan]

Obama and his supporters are so concerned about him being sensitive to the people of foreign lands. I wish they were even nearly as concerned about his lack of sensitivity to his own country and it's people. He has no problem telling us how we should feel, or what we should do, but God forbid he insults other nations.

[Gary]

Obama is just bowing to his creditors. With BHO's irresponsible deficits, there will be more bowing and groveling in the years to come.

[tomchittumwasright]

The japanese know better than to show anything other than disdain to a black. They openly know and freely discuss what they are.

[ray cahill]

I wouldn't be surprised if he apologized for having our Pacific Fleet so far away from Japan so they had to sail so far to attack it.

After all, we could have moved it closer. All they would have had to do was ask.

[marty1234]

I wish are first black president had been a rapper at least he'd have some attitude...

[Thorien]

Bowing lower than the other person is like putting them above you. Does he not have advisors to tell him these things?? The emperor did a little head bob there - Obama should have done the same and gone no lower.

[Joe six-pack]

What the hell? Its disrespectful to ALL Americans - especially veterans. The guy has to go!

[Ryan]

This is the same president who can't even make the effort to put his right hand over his heart to show respect for America and it's Veterans just the other day on Veteran's Day! Shameful traitor!

[mrdon]

Maybe it's not so bad that the President uses customary gestures that convey respect to other leaders.

But where are the gestures of any kind by any of these leaders that they respect us? Oh, that's right, they don't respect us at all. (Although Obama seems is deluded in his thinking that everyone automatically respects and admires him -- except for Republicans of course.) But they will gladly take our money, military support and anything else they can get from us when it suits their purpose.

Can't wait until Obama offers an unqualified apology complete with reparations to Japan for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[Shark]

Mr Hopey Change,

Hows that working out for you libs now?

I'll give your president the same respect you gave mine.

[Dan Cancellieri]

A half bow while maintaining EYE contact is the PROPER way to greet Emperor Akihito. The full bow without EYE contact is a sign of total submission.

[JohnH]

The "bowing is common, it's a simple greeting" is a flat out lie. In order for a bow to be common simple greeting, both parties have to be doing it--and generally, that bow is only a slight decline rather than a full-waist bow.

This bow is showing that the Emperor is superior to the President of the United States, as the Emperor did not bow in return.

And for those saying, "Oh, but BOOSH kissed the Saudi King on the cheek and held his hand!" Yes, both of those are signs in Saudi Arabia as being equals. Not one subservient to the other.

Idiots.

[Tom]

If this were about culture, we would not have female diplomats since muslims look on women as second class citizens. You cannot ascribe his actions to cultural sensitivity when in so many other ways we are insensitive to other cultures.

[Vinny]

To those suggesting this is the cultural norm, recognize that the function of a head of state is to represent the will and majesty of the United States, not some freshman foreign exchange "take in the culture" kind of deal. Here's a question - did the Emperor bow first? Did he bow back at all? I'm certain the Saudi king did not bow back, I would bet the emperor did not bow back either.

There was an emperor of the Holy Roman Empire that suggested that Emperors are constrained only by the will of god... well Obama is supposed to submit ONLY to the will of the American people. By bowing in this manner, he places a misguided ideal of "multiculturalism" and the desire to be loved over his duty of office.

[Dan]

OhBowNow, er NowBowMore, er I mean Obama shows how low he can go once again.

[Firebird7478]

How do you know Mac Arthur didn't exchange a bow before or after this photo was taken? Gee, is nothing to be said for honoring another nation's culture or traditions? What was Obama suppose to do, offer up a high-five?

[Toby]

PUKE!!! What a LOSER this guy is.

[Andy K]

The last straw along with the 5 being tried in N.Y. The community oganizer is no longer my president.

[Robert Chandler]

It is unseemly beyond words for an America president to bow to any king or emperor. Entirely outside our traditions.

This is why many have felt there is something alien about Barack Obama. He clearly doesn't not understand in his bones what it means to be an American.

I am disgusted by these pathetic displays before royalty.

[yy]

Nice to everyone except conservative Americans. Closet traitor. Ender of free speech and american exceptionalism. MMM MMM, i couldnt dislike you any more hussien the deceiver. Except if you were a lackey terrorist sympathizer like Holder.

[James Andrews]

The guy just doesn't get it. Talk about demeaning his office. How will any American have respect for our President when he has no respect for his own office.

[Catherine Whitfield]

I am OUTRAGED!!! Obama...servant to the American...has the audacity to lower the caliber of the American (for the second time no less)!!! Again, I AM OUTRAGED!!!!!!!!!

[Joe]

I can see the emporor now. Oh yeah homey while your down there why dont you just uh you know uh....

[ya]

You pathetic conservatives need to get over yourselves and accept that the American president is not a god on earth or untouchable. So he is respecting other people's cultures and not saying 'git r dun,' give it a rest. Realize we are not at war with japan anymore so no, he does not need to have a general stand in for him.

How about you repubs try and focus on fixing your own broken party and hold off on your civil war before whining about what the President does.

[Shralpen]

You people hating on Obama for bowing represents exactly why the rest of the world hates America. You are all astonishingly ignorant and childish. Its called respect get some, and please do all educated citizens a favor and stop breathing.

[Bill]

Our commander-in-chief looks more like a butler-in-chief. Guess they will claim he was just admiring Akihito's shoes. Maybe he is checking to see if he needs to shine them for the emperor! What a joke!!

Don't know how well body language carries over to the Japanese culture but look at Barry's foot position. The slightly open toes are indicitive of someone wanting to be included or wanting acceptance.

Now look at Akihito's foot position. Slightly pigeon-toed and not open at all. Don't know if it means keep away or if the Emperor is just embarassed for the United States of America! We should all be embarrased for our so called president!

[Justin Case]

Our President bows to every world leader, but not to those of us for whom he is supposedly working. Emperors and Kings - these are not even democratically elected officials, they are vestiges of monarchy, over which we fought a revolution. Disgusting, to say the least.

[Stu]

Oh,wasent he just bending down because the guy was short? Thats what he said when he 'bent over' in for the Saudi King!

[Bobd45]

For those complaining that nobody complained when Pres Bush held a Saudi princes hand and kissed his cheek. If we did complain we would have been charged with a bigot's "hate crime". After all, a leader of the Dem House of Reps does that everyday and night, I suspect. Right Rep Barney?

[Joe]

Typical Obama.....he is a repugnant!!
No American president should ever bow, my uncle dies because of Japan in 1943

[libertarian]

American leaders represent a FREE people. It is NEVER proper for a free person to bow to any foreign leader and especially bow at the feet of royalty.

Free people bow to no one and that is the point. This is the most rediculous thing I've ever seen.

[Dreadmore]

Good Gawd! obamao is a first class fool! enough of the boy king, somebody lock him in his room for the duration! obamoa has NO idea what it means to be an American!

[Kodes100]

Get over yourelves!!
Who in the hell do you think you America????
Clean up your own country & try to have some respect for other countries & their peoples.
For a country on the decline of it's international influence & power your arrogance is disgusting & misplaced!

[Leon]

ASSUME UR POSITION BARRY!
ON YOUR KNEES FOOL!

[Bonnie]

He really *should* be impeached for endangering our country. This bow is just more evidence that the man is unhinged and cannot be trusted. He's weakened our defenses, plans to make New York City a target for terrorists, and also plans to bring terrorists into our midst.

He is incompetent and must be removed from office. I'd rather see Joe Biden as president -- that's how bad Obama is.

[AzVet]

I never thought I would see the day when a U. S. President would bow to anyone, let alone a Japanese Emporer. What a moron! The Presidential election of 2012 can't come fast enough. This rag-head idiot needs to be removed from the oval office.

[Thomas Cambridge]

Hey "Respect Our Customs Only?",

You say, "The hubris and American exceptionalism movement are dead. Our place is not as leader of the free world, it's as a member state in a community of nations. This false outrage and hypernationalism sickens me. The author should be flogged."

Personally, MY outrage is genuine. And you probably think that even having the colors red,white and blue in close proximity is hyprenationalism.

America IS exceptional precisely because we choose NOT to "flog" someone for what they say. America is exceptional because of its Constitution, which you would probably chose to ignore in most cases. America is exceptional because it chose to REBUILD Japan after WWII. Oh, and France, Germany, England, Italy, and anywhere else we had a hand in breaking people's stuff. As a matter of fact we are STILL pouring money into other countries that don't give a damn about us. Read up on our relationship with Pakistan for starters.

Good luck to you in your pathetic, ignorant bliss.

[Action Jackson]

Why are we making a big deal out of this? I'm FAR from a fan of Obamao, but the most correct, diplomatic and respectful way to greet someone in a foreign land is on their own terms. When Aki comes here, O-boy can greet him with a handshake.

[John Douglas]

Can he just stop this, it is making me sick!