Why is he bowing to the Japanese Emperor Akihito?

Reuters photo ^ | 11-14-09

[9YearLurker]

You wouldn’t find the citizen-of-the-US-rather
-than-citizen-of-the-world former governor of Alaska making thst mistake.

[AmericanInTokyo]

7) S. KOREAN PRESIDENT LEE MYUNG BAK MEETS EMPEROR AKIHITO

[dawn53]

Thanks for the photos. Having spent a little time in the Far East, Obama's bow looks very awkward, way too low, compared to what I've seen as a normal greeting. So I went looking for an explanation of normal protocol, which I'm sure you know, but here it is...brought to us directly by the NYTIMES.

Bowing -- The main form of greeting in Japan is the bow rather than the handshake. Although at first glance it may seem simple enough, the bow -- together with its implications -- is actually quite complicated. The depth of the bow and the number of seconds devoted to performing it, as well as the total number of bows, depend on who you are and to whom you are bowing. In addition to bowing in greeting, the Japanese also bow upon departing and to express gratitude. The proper form for a bow is to bend from the waist with a straight back and to keep your arms at your sides, but as a foreigner you'll probably feel foolish and look pretty stupid if you try to imitate what the Japanese have spent years learning. A simple bob of the head is enough. Knowing that foreigners shake hands, a Japanese person may extend a hand but probably won't be able to stop from giving a little bow as well. I've even seen Japanese bow when speaking to an invisible someone on the telephone.

http://travel.nytimes.com/frommers/travel/guides/asia/japan/tokyo/frm_tokyo_0085022417.html

[Poe White Trash]

All that was missing was the throw-up.

Why, that's what we get to do.

[AmericanInTokyo]

8) SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER JANEZ JANSA MEETS EMPEROR AKIHITO

[Islam=Murder]

While Omoslem shucks and jives, he’s forgetting that the Japanese HATE BLACK PEOPLE.

The Japs CANNOT STAND blacks.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The photos tonight are innoculation in advance, from the Liberal Press (who might be lurking and thinking about spin), when this story breaks wide open in the USA on Monday, to charges that "Oh Well, They All Do It".

I have YET to see a picture of a head of state or foreign royalty visit the Emperor in Japan and submit to this ignorant if not outrageous national humiliation of their own country they go abroad to represent. Obama just did.

[9YearLurker]

That footage is amazing. Even after the big, deep bow he bobs up and down in a half-dozen mini-bows afterward, as if to make sure there’s no near-equal reciprocation.

[AmericanInTokyo]

9) CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER HARPER MEETS EMPEROR AKIHITO

[AmericanInTokyo]

I’ll stop the photos this morning at “10”. Point is well proven.

[AmericanInTokyo]

10) PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH OF INDIA MEETS EMPEROR AKIHITO

[AmericanInTokyo]

Its SICK to watch the video of this disgrace, isnt it. The photos are bad enough.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The libs in the USA have filed their stories and are already starting in on the spin covering for Obama.

I just caught the first major story Saturday stateside this a.m. and they are already spinning that this act somehow would be "well-received" in Japan.

Of course, they WOULD say this. This was the LOS ANGELES TIMES about two hours ago, written by a very ignorant person--about diplomatic protocol, Japanese culture, and geo-political power/image, called "Andrew Malcom"--probably a very young person working the weekend shift.

Article:"How Low Can He Go? Obama Gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a Wow Bow"

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/11/obama-emperor-akihito-japan.html

[savedbygrace]

Thank you. That is pretty much what I was thinking, although I figured it was his staff who set him up to be the fool, not State. You’re probably right about that.

[AmericanInTokyo]

At any rate, it is in the Turkish papers now, in Italy, in UK, in China, Korea, all over the place. This one is from RAI in Italy, a different angle.

What an absolute idiot, and the press for not pointing this out. They will be forced to momentarily, though:

I can almost sense Michiko Sama thinking "Oh, my. You POOR man."

This man ashames me overseas as an American.

[LibWhacker]

He loves humiliating the country every chance he gets.

[FTJM]

It’s possible that it is a form of apology, another in a long line.

[AmericanInTokyo]

In expressed words, and in non-verbal acts.

[kjaja]

from a socialist hell that Ukraine was then

[Mac from Cleveland]

Where’s that damn Enola Gay when you really need it?.......