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

[Harvey]

What would Jesus say about bowing or showing respect to another person? How offensive it is to God to put a country before him. Who should Christian worship, God or this country? This is how you know that the USA's time is coming to an end like all past emperors like Roman, Greece and others. All Hail USA! May God delay his wrath!

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. KJV

[joy rider]

Wow...This IS the new confident new America which builds and rebuilds the bridges. I only hope China does not take niceness for weakness. As for the other hate mails know that the FBI is on you...and you are on the Watch list...but wait this is no Bush admin

[Anonymous]

How DARE he show respect to a foreigner. Respect shows weakness! And to a former enemy? What's next, showing respect for the prime minister of England, our ORIGINAL ENEMY?!?! Or... Germany? Those evil fascists! What an awful thought!

As a world leader and diplomat, Obama should obviously behave with contempt towards other leaders. After all, that's how diplomacy gets done, right? Let them know you're better than them! Maybe he should wear a cowboy hat and make jokes about bombing Hiroshima, too.

[Michael Shumake]

I'm glad that Obama isn't like any of these ignorant freaks that think that doing the polite thing was a mistake. I thank God every day that we have Obama running things the right way and not like some schoolyard bully that neglected his education.

[JR Salazar]

Lots of GOP posters on this thread. Suck it.

[Mikail]

I'm pretty sure that if he bows to the filthy Queen of England none of you will complaint - of course, she is Anglo-Saxon cream of the cream.

For those of you complaining: get used to work as a team (and this starts respecting other peoples customs and practices); because USA is not longer the king in the castle.

Support Obama, he is an wise, balanced and smart man.

[scared]

Milie please watch the College Republicans video that was posted here. Kissing is culture for some but bowing is something different.

[A Reader]

If bowing is such a common way of showing respect then Akihito must be disrespectful of Obama because he did not bow.

One must be a moron to not see the obvious, that is, that Obama did not quite grow up to the job.

[Smerritt]

This is only news to hate mongers. Cheney's a disrespectful pompous hater, so of course he'd have no respect for a foreign government and would do everything to impress his ignorant base. Obama has the decency to acknowledge and respect a country's leadership in its own country's methods. One would hope that the hateful Glenn Beck following commentators on this thread would take a hint and do the same. Surprise, they won't.

[Micheal]

IMHO, these responses are partisan, to Republicans who despise Obama, this is another unforgivable act, to Democrats, no problem, When in Rome, act like a Roman, I am Democrat, but thats not why I am Ok with this, I come from Middle East where men hug and kiss each other to greet, probably a reprehensible act by western standards. Obama goes out of his way to reach and connect with his audience, in this case by mimicking the Arab or Japanese culture and this is another sign of his great abilities and intelligence.

This is absolutely wonderful and very effective in provoking respect and admiration for US in the eyes of the world, its about time we start rebuilding the bridges we have burned in the past by our failed foreign policies.

[Carole Clarke]

When I saw President Obama bow to the Japanese Emporer, all I could think of was those dead sailors and marines at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. My father spent 34 years in the U.S. Army and I am glad he was not alive to see an American President bow to foreign royalty like the Japanese Emporer and the Saudi King. Americans bow to no one - our flag dips to no one. Why did he do this? Was it deliberate? I am very, very angry!

[Jerry Moore]

I think this shows his inexperience in foreign affairs, and show his true colors, that he is ashamed to be an American.

[Jerry Moore]

I think this shows his inexperience in foreign affairs, and show his true colors, that he is ashamed to be an American.

[Ted Maurro]

when in Rome - I bow when I do business in Asia. He visited their home. It is a sign of respect and understanding of Japan. His low bow gives great honor to our good allied friends and even greater to our Nation. He bowed and kept our military bases- good deal!

[Ted Maurro]

A bow in exchange of the largest Military base in Asia? Bow!

Great honor to our nation - I bow in Asia when I work there.

[Kelly]

I think it is nice that the President has enough manners to note that it is a sign of respect to bow in Japan. As an American, I find it disgusting that there are others posting comments about the President actually having manners! What is wrong with you people. To get respect you must give it. You just don't get it because of your title. Having manners is a wonderful thing and paying close enough attention to actually care about what are considered manners in another country while traveling is lovely and refreshing. Obviously, you either did not pay attention to what your mother taught you or your mother was as stupid as you are and raised a bunch of ungracious idiots.

[Los]

I appreciate Obama's gesture. I think it shows respect for Japan's culture and respect for one's elders. So what if no one else does? Obama has class, regardless of his policies, which makes America look good. Everyone knows where political power lies - bowing to a nation's emporer in no way weakens our political power. If anything, I think it will put a bandaid on the horrible opinion the rest of the world has of us, which can only help.

[K.]

Emperor Akihito is old enough to be the President's grandfather. Showing deep respect for your elders is an important part of many cultures, including the Hawaiian culture that President Obama was raised in.

I'm grateful that we have a president who realizes the value of intercultural communication, and understands that the highest compliment you can pay to another culture is *respecting* it.

[RocketBoyLes]

We have to accept the fact that we have an anti-american, anti-capitalist, lying thug, muslim terrorist for a president. This guy and his lapdog followers have done more to do harm and damage to this country than any of us have or will ever see in our lifetime. The ONLY hope we have is to run to the polls in 2010 and vote every incumbent congressman and senator OUT of office. In 2012 we have to vote this lying socialist/nazi bum OUT as president. He has redefined the world of corruption and arrogance. He is a traitor to the country and should be impeached and imprisioned (along with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, traitors and thieves as well). I am HORRIFIED at what he and those parasite socialist followers of his are doing, and it is up to us all to throw them out...or be prepared to pour into the streets with guns and torches. If you have any questions about how it all works, see the history of the French Revolution of the late 1700s.

[Chau Nguyen]

The video shows how petty politics can be.

Whats so extraordinary about our President showing respect for another country's culture?

This is much like when the press released videos of President Bush holding hands with Saudis. The Horror!

Why do some people automatically associate respect as a weakness?

[Maker]

The deep bow was premeditated, planned, ... it is part of an overall theme of strength through humility.

Americans should not be too proud to bow. We must end all signs of arrogance and pride, since they only cause more problems then it's worth. American pride is dangerous when it causes other countries to hate us.

God Bless Obama for having the emotional fortitude, grace and strength to do things differently. I truely hope that he can effect the change he is working towards!

[James]

I'm getting a huge laugh out of all these people talking about the "culture" of Japan as if they know anything.

The biggest proof that he is screwing up is that the Emporer, who is CERTAINLY aware of Japanese culture... is not, did not, and has not bowed to the US President. While you might argue that Obama should bow LOWER (as a sign of respect in the Emperors country, or to his elder) but you cannot with a straight face say that he is doing the right thing by bowing here.

and don't start with the "he was about to" mess either... in that culture, they are QUITE skilled at "snapping" to a bow when presented with one.

I'm not going to call him a joke or anything like that... but don't anyone try and claim this was appropriate. A VERY slight bow... almost a nod as the Emporer MIGHT be doing (hard to tell) is MORE than enough.

[Mike M]

Who freaking cares? Don't we have bigger fish to fry then a diplomat bowing to another? Bowing has been a sign of respect for thousands and thousands of years and now you wanna vilify the POTUS for doing it? Is there anything trivial you people won't complain about?!?!? If his daughter gave him a tie for Christmas you'd decry Christmas as SOCIALISM!

[anonymous]

This is not traditional in Japan. Bowing is never accompanied by physical contact... So much for that defense.

[Aidan]

You people disgust me. Only stupid far-right Americans would take being conscious of another culture as being "subservient" or "groveling". Congratulations; you are personally ensuring that the stereotype of culturally ignorant Americans lives on in the eyes of the rest of the world.

[Nathan]

Obama has class. Yay! :P

Many Americans still can't get over themselves. Boo! :(

[dkimmer]

on principal, we should not condemn him unless we know the facts. innocent until proven guilty

[James Galard]

The man has a great speaking voice. He reads teleprompters with grace and style. It got him the Presidency.

The rest is almost too horrible to contemplate.

We voters are SUCH idiots.

[Doug]

If bowing is the proper thing to do in Japan because of their history and culture....Why did the Emperor not bow in return? Their culture is that the lower ranked individual does the bowing. The President of the United States should never be considered the lower ranked individual. Remeber in the Berlin Olympic games when the US atheletes did not lower our Flag to Hitler because (as they said) the United States flag is never lowered. Our armed forces have earned the right for our leaders to not place themselves beneath those that they are visiting. This is not a republican verse democrat issue. It is our heritage earned in such wars as WW1 and WW2.

[G.P.]

These critics are ridiculous. People who have visited/lived in Japan know that bowing isn't a sign of DEFERENCE, it's a sign of RESPECT. Obama is simply showing that, unlike the gun-toting, hot dogging presidents past, he doesn't think he is God's greatest gift to mankind. There's nothing wrong with showing the emperor of Japan respect. Besides, if you pundits knew anything about Japan (which you clearly do not), you would know that the emperor is a figurehead. The prime minister/diet have the power. What a stupid thing to criticize Obama over.

[KCarter]

Thank you Obama. I can appreciate a president that has some class and respect for others. Regardless of the fact that he is the president of the most powerful country in the world Obama has the humility to bow to an elder to pay respect. Presidency is an honor and I would expect that the president would bow or show a sign of respect to even the poorest citizen of the world. I am really not sure why a large portion of our country is full of people with tiny #icks. No wonder the jobs are leaving the US. I wouldn't give a job to a lot of the @$$ holes here that cannot pay respect to another person. It is irrelevant that these people are two leaders. At that moment in time they are two people meeting on friendly terms! I guess it is more hip to punch your friend in the face then show them respect. Maybe Americans don't have friends... They must be Walmart shoppers. HAHA.

[Citizen Phil]

OUR President is respectful. A word that most writers of these comments have no respect for.

[stanley Kerns]

Somehow I can't see George Washington--or Abraham Lincoln--or Teddy Roosevelt-or any other leader from our past who legitimately had use for a jock strap doing what Obama did--but it seems about par for our first Arab President (check it on Google-he is 1/4 black, 1/4 white, and 1/2 Arab)--makes no real difference as we all are 100% American--but when he starts acting different--wins the Nobel for doing nothing--and in general has little to show for his efforts--and then he starts to bow to princelings?? Would he have us bow to him?? As Henry Higgins said "Words, words, words--I'm so sick of words"--all the man does is talk. And I really don't see him having an iron fist in a velvet glove--I think he is pure teflon to the core.

[Ray]

Really? Comments are moderated? Clearly they aren't moderated for stupidity, racism, name calling, and other disgraces.

You people are the biggest sore losers in the history of this republic. What a bunch of crude cry babies.

What you witnessed is called "culture". It's a fascinating concept. Many places in the world have different versions. Perhaps when you climb out of your caves you'll get to experience one.

[Bigred]

Oh Noes! The Kenyan Usurper failed again! Doesn't that fool know the correct way for a U.S. Prez to greet anyone is by slapping them a high five and then giving them a cold beer?!?!

[wolf]

Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is with all of the bowing and what-have-you. It's a symbolic gesture, just like Bush holding hands and kissing cheeks with the saudis (and no one accused him of any funny business). But whatever, let's all get angry about it, since there's clearly nothing else in the news these days that affects our lives more than whether or not Obama chooses to humor our allies...

[Stephanie]

"Have black dirt bag?" What does his race have to do with this conversation? "Disgraceful to humble himself?" This is why, internationally, we're known as 'ignorant Americans.' You may want to become a bit more familiar with other cultures and customs before judging. It would especially help if you have plans to visit other countries. However, based on the level of ignorance in some of these quotes, you probably never will.

[Scott]

My wife is Japanese, born and bred. She sees no need for Obama to bow to the Emperor in such a fashion. A handshake would have sufficed.

[gefitz]

So, now the American right has equated "respect for other cultures" as "aiding and abbetting terrorism". No wonder the rest of the world is leaving the United States in the dust.

[Buxer]

The president of the USA should not bow to any head of states. It's not a matter of not being polite or respectful of other cultures. It's matter of principle and equality. Japan or Saudi Arabia, even though they have emperor of kings as head of state (good for them), no US president should ever give the impression that our nation is inferior to them in any way. Mr. Obama, STOP your circus and do what the American people expect you to do.

[jeff]

Not only elderly Japanese residents are sensitive to this but this bowing also casuse a binding of force with the older (60 plus) japanese peaple. now when we make a request for help or support they are obligated to follow the emperors wishes. To think the does not hold sway of opinian over his people would be a mistake. but he should have bowed only or bowed then shook hands.

[lynn]

You want to see groveling? Just wait till the oil supplies start running dry and all these 'true red blooded Americans' can't drive the precious pickups and suv's.

We are the most powerful country in all of history, but I thank God we have a leader who's knows that may not last forever. What are we going to do when the oil runs out? Maybe Obama realizes that we're going to have to learn how to cooperate so we'll have at least a few allies on our side for when that day comes.

[Tim C]

As Japan holds a significant portion of US debt (>$10T), Obama had better bow to their leader as should anyone else in power from the US. Japan and China could easily collapse the US economy by selling off their dollar holdings.

[Steve Jobs]

Perhaps you conservatives would rather that the President vomit on a Japanese head of state like your monkey man George Bush. Nice to finally have somebody represent our country who respects other cultures and doesnt try to start wars for the good of Haliburton. In case you havnt heard Bushy boy gave the biggest contract in US history with no bidding process. Is that what you call the free market. Thats what I call the good ole boys market. And dont forget Cheney had a substantial amount of stock in the company. If bowing to a foriegn dignitary is the worst you've got on Obama, then you have nothing. The dem's will be working for years to recover all of the money that conservatives wasted in Iraq. and in case you havn't heard the bombings have not stopped in Iraq.

[From Japan]

The only disgrace I can see is the stupid, racist, elitist comments from the Rethuglicans here. Good luck with 2012 now that Sarah is back.

[Monching]

Milie, the one you described is only applicable in family/private settings. Definitely not for Heads of State.
Obama should've not bowed; a handshake would've worked.

[A Japanese Reader]

Bowing has no context of subservience in Asia as it does in Europe and America. Bowing is a show of respect here in Japan, not subservience. That's the first fact about bowing in Japan that you need to know.
In Asia, subservience is indicated by kneeling instead, which is why the term "dogeza (kneeling on the ground)" has a special meaning in Japanese vocabulary.

[maria argyropoulos]

Republicans already try to make everything look bad, so why am i surprised by this? I'm glad we have a president who understands that it is proper to respect the customs of another country. Who CARES if he bowed to the emperor. Oh the japanese care...and i think that is a good thing. Some people need to take their head out of their butts and realize that showing respect to an elder, who is a respected symbol of a country is a GOOD thing. It doesn't make him weak, it makes him informed. If this is the best the Republicans can do to try to discredit Obama, then he and the Dems have nothing to worry about.

[nikkichiki]

I am so glad that there are a lot of open minded people out there. People should stop whining about the past: "america should never bow to any other countries"-this kind of attitude is what causes war, social unrest and strife among nations. Times have changed and I dont know about you old fogies out there but we all have to adapt new attitudes and outlooks to get along with other cultures and better ourselves. The country's road to recovery should not be shouldered by the government alone, it should be every citizen's responsibility. I mean ACT ON YOUR WORDS, stop blaming/badmouthing the president or the government because he is not a baby sitter...This is good that we are atleast establishing peaceful, diplomatice relationships with other countries...

[sherman]

you guys are so close minded its called showing alittle respect to anothers culture. The president is doing a great job to mend all of the relationships that are so messed up. Its so funny to see how fast people can point the fingure and judge when there lives are in so much chaos and imperfection!!!