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

[Moval Link]

The right-wing lost the election and waiting for something comes up with president. Here they try to criticize the gesture of president to the symbolic Japanese power, Emperor is not the real power. Mr. President doesn't bow President Hu Jintao, PM Yukio Hatoyama. Whoever looks at this bowing and feel that our president is being low has inferior complex of being a loser. This is symbolic, not a real submission folks.

[Andy]

I once had the good fortune to grow up at the tail end of a generation that knew and understood the meaning and purpose of the word "respect". Sadly, I have seen this concept slowly erode over the last 40 odd years, as witnessed by the comments posted about this clearly sensationalistic piece of non-news.

For all those who have demonstrated a complete wealth of ignorance about the concept of respect, here follows a short primer:

1. Respect is given, then received.

At first glance these terms would seem interchangeable, they are not.
Respect is a circular cycle, beginning with the act of giving and ending with the lack of giving.

2. Those who demand respect, will not receive it.

For the very same reason mentioned after the first point. These are the people who believe they should be respected but rarely return the favor. The cycle is broken, and they scratch their heads wondering why.

Respect is a scalable concept. It works between two people, two groups of people, two nations, all the same way.

That’s really it in a nutshell. A minute to learn, a lifetime to master.

For all those who feel some sense of shame that our President shows respect to other leaders when visiting them at their own homes, in their own countries, perhaps you should reevaluate your position. Or maybe you wouldn’t mind if someone drops by and kicks your dog, drinks up all your beer and does a burnout leaving your driveway?

Respect is given, then received.

[Roe Levi]

I cannot believe the shameful ignorance of these hicks!
"When in Rome, you do as Romans do!" President Obama did what President George Washington did...he followed protocol!
The measure of bend from the waist down is taught by experts to all Presidents, and it all depends how well they learn what they were taught, as to how well they perform, you primitive fools!
Our President learned it well, and made us look good! He showed true class, wisdom, and true diplomacy, unlike our past cowboy President!
What is wrong with being cultured, educated, articulate, appropriate, brilliant and above all, in tune with the world that we need as our allies to takle the struggles with the quagmires and with the demolished economy the last administration left us? What is wrong with that?
Do you want the animosity to continue so that we collapse into a world war that we can't even afford with the poor economy we were left with by the past administration?
Ill will only breeds ill will! Didn't you notice that was the result of the reckless bravado from our last President!
President Bush, never got "Osama Bin Laden dead or alive," as he vowed that he would while he pounded on his chest, like a gorilla!
So who needs empty bs? Give us a break! It's time to grow up, face our reality and behave like civilized intelligent diplomats from the west, not like idiots from the wild wild west era!
Remember we're still the most powerful country in the world, bowing to anyone or holding hands with the Arab idiot, means only a greeting to open the doors to friendly negotiations! It does not mean we're subservient, it means we're worldly and diplomatically knowledgeable of international diplomacy. Furthe there are several bows in Japan, the president performed the bow correctly and we loose nothing by his bowing, we only stand to gain respect from others, when we are willing to give them the respect that they are used to. The fact that the Emperor is comfortable with the ignorance of westerners, only makes us inferior. When we show understanding of the various cultures, it places us in an advantageous position of political skill and intelligence!

[Jean-Christophe]

Richard Nixon bowed to Emperor Hiro Hito in 1971. It is pathetic that politeness and respect of customs are seen as a sign of weakness. Have we lost all our self confidence to consider how a president salutes another head of state a sign of America's weakness?

[Roe Levi]

Are you suffering from amnesia? Do you not recall that President Bush held hands with the Saudi King and kissed him???!!!!

[KI]

For Japanese people, I think it does not matter if Obama vowed or not, or if he did it properly or not. If he just shook hands, it was completely OK, too. (Actually, the vow itself was not in the news at all in Japan. On the other hand, this controversy in America, including this article, got pretty big coverage in the media.)

What I found deeply offensive is this article itself. “How low can he go?” What, is it so low and despicable thing to be polite to Japan? Are we so low?

OK, I see.

[Krystal]

This just proves that President Obama's actions are not only irresponsible, but unacceptable. The President of the United States of America bows to NO ONE!! We ARE the global leaders in so many ways: economically (usually), democratically, militarily (through air superiority), humanitarianly, even environmentally. Let’s be honest with ourselves, what other country in the world has as much prosperity, elects non-violently, gives aid non-discriminately, and puts fish, mice, or insects ahead of humans in importance, only the USA!
I may be a Penn Stater, and have the battle cry of “We Are, Penn State!!” But I am an American and I want to have the battle cry of “We Are, USA!!” not, We Are, No Ones!
Please be proud of the country you were born in, the United States of America!! There may be many differences that separate us, but for OUR sake, Believe in U.S.!!!

[Matthew]

I am sorry it is proper to bow, just as it is proper to stand when the president enters a room.

I am sorry, what is wrong with all of you people who think this is bad. You are exactly what is wrong with this country. You have no respect for anyone other than people who think exactly like you. This is why people hate America! And remember everyone in the world LOVES Obama except for the republican party. Says just how stupid the 20% of America is.

[Max Griego]

I find it extremely offensive that the President of the United States bowed to the emperor of Japan. I think it is demeaning to American people. We owe the Japanese or any other nation nothing whatsoever. I voted for Obama. I thought he would be a good change for this country after the fiasco of George Bush. As time goes by, I am wondering more and more if I and a lot of other Americans didn't make a mistake, perhaps a very serious one in electing Obama. There are many delicate nuances to having a a black president. I think we live in a dangerous time, not from external enemies, but from stresses within the structure of the United States. I hope to God we can hold together. I believe we are in the midst of a crisis that is much greater than just an economic crises . The stresses could well tear this country apart if they become critical enough, or send us reeling in a direction that will be just as disasterous as a civil war.

[Joe]

To all of you who think that America should bow to nobody, bowing in Japan is a sign of respect as so many of these other culturally-minded people have noted. When you are in someone else's territory, you follow their customs. How would you react if the Japanese leader came to the US and bowed but did not shake the President's hand? Even if the Emperor does not require bowing, brownie points always works well in the realm of international public relations.

And although the US was noble during WWII in stopping an evil empire, doesn't constantly bringing that up to force others to bow to you and do things "your way" negate that nobility? It would be like a police force who saved a town from its crime problems only to hold the town hostage and have its citizens treat the police like kings and do their every bidding.

The US desperately needs to mend its relationships with other countries, and having a bigoted mindset that is ignorant of others' customs is not the way to do that.

[VG2009]

Emperor of Japan did not bow? He was handshaking with President Obama. In Japan, it is bad manner to touch others' body but he dared to shakehands respecting western way. This is nothing but a sign of respect to President Obama.

[SmartEnoughToSkipFox]

Way to go Obama! Showing respect for a foreign ally is a way to build diplomacy and strong relationships between governments. Too bad Bush was so ignorant about the world and showed so little respect to foreign countries and chose to start unnecessary wars (with all the pinheaded neo-cons approval, led by O'Reilly and Limbaugh and Beck) and wasting the lives of our honorable armed forces, not to mention the death of tens of thousands of civilians in Iraq.

[EAM]

This president wants to project his own inferiority complex on the rest of the country. He wants to bring America down to his level, but in the long run, he will not succeed.

[Bill Willow]

I think its okay for the president to bow to another foreign leader if it is on foreign soil. He should not bow to anyone if they are at the White House.

[TGray]

I miss the Bush custom of puking on Japanese heads of state.

[jon1223]

Obama is a shameless fool. We are not subject of japan. After ww2 the USA built japan. Now obama bows to him. It should be the other way around.

[droL]

Isn't it the right way to render respect to Japan's emperor? Isn't that how the Japanese people bow to their leader? IMO, I think Obama was just trying to show due respect to Akihito the way it should be, unlike the rest of the leaders and communities outside Japan who are either ignorant or contemptuous about it.

Yes, I admit, it's not very common to see the most powerful leader in the world to take a wow bow to someone lower than him in terms of power. But I guess it's the American people, whom Obama represents for, whose pride and dominion were both challenged or humiliated by such impartial act.

[Gid Struble]

I honestly didn't think it was possible to out-do Jimmy Carter, but Obama has done it. He is the biggest joke to walk onto the World stage representing this country. As another poster has already said, 2012 cannot get here soon enough. Here here!!

[GCL]

Showing respect for others! - how un-American! LOL!

[Chris]

First a king and then an emperor. Should we would give Barrack Obama the benefit of the doubt and assume that he does not yet "fully understand" the office of the presidency, much less the damaging symbolism of the leader of the world's longest lived republic bowing to royalty? Or should we conclude that Obama's actions, rather than his beautifully spoken words, reveal for us his attitude towards the republic he has been elected to lead?

[dillon]

i see no reason why we should be running him down for this.In Japan it is very common for people to sometimes do this not to show that the person is very weak but out of sighs of respect just like in America we sometimes shake hands well they bow down to each other sometimes well at least the older genernation does.I don`t like Obama like the next guy but we should not be running him down on this one.

[Vince]

Somewhere (everywhere?) a lot of U.S. soldiers, sailors and Marines who died in the Pacific are turning in their graves.

[Flavio]

A handshake would have indeed sufficed in America, a country where political respect and ethical conduct mean nothing. (look at the circus republicans have made out of the health care debates) Americans are notoriously known around the world for being rude, ignorant and obnoxious. By bowing, our president is doing us a favor, he is showing the rest of the world that not all Americans are imbeciles. The president clearly understands that our classic stubborn American arrogance will get us nowhere politically. The real question here is how low will these Obama bashing journalists go in their effort to stir up fatuous controversy?

[Adele]

President Obama is too naive. There is nothing wrong in showing respect to the emperor, but bowing down to that extent shows weakness like Cheney said(I'm no fan of Cheny tho). Countries will never do what you like them to do just because you bow down to their emperor, they will do what is in the interest of their people. He should start learning that, like it or not, Americas enemies are rubbing their hands with glee at all these faux pas from the american predident.

[Harvey]

I saw the pictures of Dwight D. Eisenhower bowing to the French Prime Minister and Nixon bowing to the Japanese Prime Minister last night on MSNBC. No one seems to have a problem with their bows. Then there is also the fact that every President that meets the King and Queen of England bows as a sign of respect. How come nobody has a problem with that? Oh, I get it, if your a Republican nobody seems to take notice of these things, and if your bowing to an Anglo Saxon then it is alright no matter who does the bowing!

[Sandra]

You Bush loving Jerks with your hate speeches. If you hate our commander in chief so much then why don't you leave American and go live some where else. Canada seems just a right fit for you haters

[JM Fisher]

Will someone please educate our president about protocol when greeting other heads of state? When he bows he does not show respect, but subservience. He is not a subject of the nation he visits--he is a head of state! He should stand up and quit bowing. He might as well curtsy like a girl if he wants to undermine his authority.

[Nho]

it is not surprising that americans feel that this is some show of weakness. there is a huge lack of respect within our culture. in asia, it permeates the society. from body language to the way they speak to each other. a formal bow, from an american perspective, has no meaning. so we have to connect it to something in trying to make sense of it. and that "thing" is submission - which this clearly is not.

[Bill Shatzel]

Why is he even there? There's a crisis here in this country, our economy is in the toilet, health care reform is a joke, and now we afford constitutional rights to foreign terrorists and foreign policy is now part of the attorney generals domain.

[Rado]

This one must really puzzle Obama haters. He's a self agrandizing egomaniac!!! Then he bows to the jap emperor??? Sacrilege!!!
Damned either way. lol.

[Thomas]

Obama kept saying things like "I hope I will stay humble," when he won. At the time, I worried about whether he meant it, because cheering crowds must inflate the ego like crazy. And it does seem awfully Christian, in a traditional sense, to have that attitude. We're certainly a strong enough country to be humble, or at least we should aspire to be.

Still, I don't understand what he was thinking. Maybe he kept dropping his blackberry...?

[Mikee]

It's hilarious to see the over reaction to this non-story.

"OMG! Teh prezdint shoed rispekt 2 sum1. impeetch his!"

[Jonathan]

The only negative aspect of this bow is that Republicans will once again waste days of their energy on a complete non-issue. What a fail of a party.

[Mike From Cincinnati Ohio]

I'm sorry, but a little humility on the behalf a great and powerful nation such as the United States of America is a good thing in my mind. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Proper respect begets proper respect. Japanese are known for being polite and considerate. I think an acknowledgement that Japan is a great nation is fine. Obama did bow, was it a bit to deep, sure... does he regret it? doubtful.

[hut]

so whats the big deal...Obama's doing as Japanese would in Japan, he is a good guest..
as long as he is not giving any in trade negotiations...

[Joy]

Surely you are not equating President Obama with that arrogant reprobate Cheney. Isn't it wonderful to see this "Christian" country so puffed up with pride.

[Debra]

I Think President Obama is obeying a higher authority
So all you who advise him to stand proud should take a lesson in humility.
We are one country under God remember?
I am proud of our President

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed
with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace
to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty
hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
1 Peter 5:5-6, KJV

[Debra]

I Think President Obama is obeying a higher authority
So all you who advise him to stand proud should take a lesson in humility.
We are one country under God remember?
I am proud of our President

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed
with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace
to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty
hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
1 Peter 5:5-6, KJV

[Spokane-Dude]

To Thomas in Newport: what "law" are you referring to?

[KC]

Wow, I knew Bush and Cheney were pretty arrogant, but I had no idea they went as far as to shirl a customary bow. Even in the military we're are taught to respect the cultures of the countries we visit. I hope you guys ar just Obama bashing, and don't actually think that because we are "Americans", we should disregard the customs and cultures of all others, including our allies.

[George Douglas]

Our disgustingly whimpy suckup president embarasses America everywhere he goes. Can you imagine Ronald Reagan bowing to anyone? Obama is an absolute failure as a man much less as a leader. He is no leader. Any president that would leave 70,000 U.S. troops in harms way for months after the commanding general has asked for re-enforcements is a coward that can't make a decision. That is the reason he voted "present" so many times, instead of chosing a yes or no vote on bills. As a veteran, Obama and his whole crew disgust me. They are marxist socialist activists that have never really worked a day in their lives. They hate the USA and its armed services. They detest anyone that achieves a good income through hard work. They live off of support from the welfare ghettos of America, just like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The Americans that voted to put this disaster in office should hang their heads in shame.
Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are destroying America and putting us in debt so far as to cause this great nation to fail. Obama should be impeached. He is a Muslim sympathizer who will stop at nothing to help Iran succeed over Israel. The real men that lead other nations are laughing at us and our coward president. He is the worse American president ever elected to office. When you have lived through the Carter administration, that is saying something.

[glenn]

I'm a conservative, and I don't really have an issue with this now.
Sure. I was pissed when I first saw it, because I knew what the deferential bow meant.
But now, I can see that, even though it was a little too low of a bow, I am sure it shows the Japanese people that we do not take them for granted, and we do respect and appreciate their support in the world.
A little humility never hurt anyone. As far as I know right now.

[mmm,mmm,mmm]

Pretty heady stuff for an upstart to meet with royalty. So he bows! My only question is: Why arn't the feminists upset that he did not bow befor the Queen of England? Do I detect male chouvenist piggishness in our o-BOW-ma?

[Lucas]

Whats the big deal.. first of all the Emperor is not a head of state, second of all, don't all Asians bow when they meet each other. Its their culture, he was just being cultured. In West people shake hands, in the East they bow.. I'm wondering what people in America would think if the Japanese prime minister came to America and dindn't shake the president's hand.

People learn a little bit of culture please !!! Capitalism has brought about a Global Economy where one must acknowledge and work with other cultures... besides who bowing lower. President Obama or the average American who is too cheap to buy local goods and instead goes to Wal Mart to buy every thing "MADE in CHINA" or fills their tank with oil from the "Middle East" or our friends in "Venezuela"

The world is changing... America will no longer be the sole superpower ... Instead the European Union, Russia, China, India, Brazil and emerging countries will have a say in how the world is governend. I think this is the way it should be.. if you don't you can only blame .. CAPITALISM

[marty1234]

Alright...Air Jordans...

[Val]

It's polite, respectful, and intelligent to observe other cultures' customs when you are in their country. If we want the world to stop thinking of Americans as ignorant and self-centered, maybe we should stop being ignorant and self-centered. Bowing is a traditional greeting and sign of respect in Japan.

[James]

For all the idiots that say we know nothing about Japanese culture. The Emporer didn't bow, for he is Emporer. If you knew anything, you'd know that Japan isn't run like us, the superior usually lets the others do the bowing. Good try with that useless excuse.

[Greg]

The President of the United States is not supposed to bow to foreign leaders. We shake hands. Even Clinton knew this. It's the same when greeting the Queen of England. We are not her subjects, we do not bow to her.

We are not subjects of the Emperor of Japan, we do not bow to him.

Where has our strength gone?

[Sean]

Frankly, I'm sorry you people are a bunch of hicks.

In Japan, it polite to bow to your elders. If you guys wish go on ignorant to the world, fine be my guest. No wonder there are people all of over the world who think of Americans are barbarous misfits who attempt to control everything in the world.

HOW FOOLISH CAN YOU GET.

You poor excuses for human being wouldn't survive in the real world for 5 minutes. Unlike George Bush he is paying attention to other countries cultures and beliefs. He is trying to sustain peace. End wars. And your out here making propaganda about terrorism. Los Angeles Times your an embarrassment.

[IamThere]

Luckily no one is showing the backside profile of President Obama as he taking his bow, I wonder what most people would have to say about it from that awkward point of view ???
It's one thing to bow gracefully and this is definitely quite the contrary...