As someone who’s lived in Japan for many years, I advise my fellow Freepers to knock off the idiocy I see in a number of these posts. There’s nothing wrong with the President showing respect for the Emperor — who, by the way, is the head of state of one our very best allies in the world. It definitely does NOT mean or imply “submission” in any way. It’s simply a show of respect for the country of Japan through its senior symbol, the Emperor. And it will go over very well with the Japanese. ‘Nuff said.
You want him to respect other countries when he doesnt even respect his own and the american people?
Why wont this piece of snit salute our flag? Where is the respect there..as our supposed leader?
I have to wonder if whomever is advising him, is making him do these things on purpose..to make an idiot out of him. Not that he even needs help with that, tho.
You didn’t see what the most knowledgeable FReepers in Japan had to say about this the first time it was posted.
I hate dups. Hate ‘em.
BO is a head of state as well (alas) Why didn’t the Emperor bow deeply to him?
I lived in Japan for a few years, and I think Obama’s bow is ridiculous. Of course, it’s small potatoes compared to his other acts.
Maybe if BO wants to “turn Japanese”, he needs a Japanese name—I christen BO President “Harigata” Obama
; )
To: Poundstone
You must be an English teacher.
Anyone who has spent a considerable amount of time living in Japanese neighborhoods and working in Japanese companies, and adopting the Japanese lifestyle as our own because we owe our respect to Japan for having us here as guests and members of society in the first place, must know that no one never prostrates in that way, especially as a head of state, to any other person in Japan unless you’ve killed their child in car accident, stolen money from them, libeled their family, or some-such situation.
Heads of state of Japan in the old days would never expect any foreign visitor to acquiesce them self to Japanese culture as Obama did here. He is a showing the Japanese that he is a laughable neophyte of foreign policy. The Emperor and Empress are obviously embarrassed and uncomfortable at his arrogance in thinking that he knows international protocol and showing his bow to them. This simply does not exist in Japanese culture.
The bow is a sign of respect. We bow to our neighbors with a slight head bob as we head to the train station in the morning. We bow to our co-workers as we ask for a favor with a slight head bob and a “sumimasen” (”thanks”, “its cool”, “OK-got it”, “sorry for interrupting...but”) when we ask for a favor. We even bow as we enter the elevator with a nod of the head or a tip of the hand as an “excuse me” gesture when we bump into or interrupt a stranger in a crowded public area, but we NEVER bow, especially with a lame stance like that to anyone. Anyone!
To show a sign of respect to a fellow head of state (which Emperor Akihito is most definitely not, as one a figurehead of the nation of Japan) simply shows that Obama is a self-righteous, pompous ass that thinks he knows more than other people INCLUDING the emperor.
He has just presented himself as the dork at the Dungeons and Dragons party with all the 6, 8, 12, and 24-sided dice, the cast iron figurines, and al the dungeon master manuals, to the CEO that created the game and just wants to earn some cash expecting some respect for his love of the game.
Many of my fellow FReepers that have been here longer than my own 12 years and have more experience than myself in working daily with, conducting business meetings with, attending social events with, and enjoying personal friendships with the Japanese, whom I am a neighbor of more than 13 million of here in Tokyo, would never suggest what you just have.
You would know by now that Japanese NEVER expect a foreigner to bow to them under any circumstance unless it involves a close personal relationship between family or business, evolves from a long-established submersion in Japanese culture where YOU, as a foreigner are respected as a Japanese member of society, and are expected to adhere to Japanese customs in the situation, and that what he did is simply sophomoric narcissism.
Heads of State do not, never have, and are never expected to show crass disregard for Japanese customs, as Obama showed here. He has, once again, made himself look the fool, and the Japanese are laughing at him too.