Obama and the emperor...

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Why all the fuss over Obama's deep bow?

Conservative commentators in the United States wasted no time in seizing on something that might put President Barack Obama in a bad light. Many of them are in an uproar over Obama's bow before Emperor Akihito last Saturday. They say it reeked of kowtowing. Obama greeted the emperor with a handshake and a nearly 90-degree bow before having lunch with him and his wife, Empress Michiko. Obama departed for Singapore afterward. In contrast to the controversy raging in the United States, many in Japan, however, had only praise for the American president's etiquette. Nobuko Akashi, secretary-general of the Japan Manners and Protocol Association, said, "By bowing deeply when he met with the emperor, he showed respect." In general, bowing while also shaking hands is not considered appropriate. At the same time, not taking the hand offered by the emperor would have been unbelievably rude. "I believe he displayed very good manners," Akashi said. "I have no doubt that the positive light in which Japanese view Obama will only increase."

A similar perspective was offered by Kiyoshi Sumiya, 84, who is well-versed in diplomatic niceties, having served as chief of protocol at the Foreign Ministry as well as grand master of ceremonies at the Imperial Household Agency. "He was probably not used to bowing, and because of his height (Obama is 187 centimeters) the bow might have been deeper than usual, but it is unduly harsh to criticize him for that," Sumiya said. According to Sumiya, the emperor is treated as a head of state in terms of diplomatic protocol. Expressing appropriate respect toward a head of state, regardless of how large or small the nation, is an important principle of diplomatic protocol.

An American who has lived in Japan for 15 years had nothing but praise for Obama. Michael Pronko is a professor of American literature at Meiji Gakuin University. "I thought it was just fine," he said. "Obama is someone who can look at things from different perspectives, so he probably looked into the customs of Japan before his visit and prepared for the meeting." Pronko added, "It was somewhat odd to bow while also shaking hands. He probably couldn't find the right timing to bow." Pronko said when he first arrived in Japan he also experienced problems in knowing when to shake hands or bow. It was not unusual to have someone bow their head while he extended his hand or to have someone extend their hand while he was about to bow. Pronko explained that much of the criticism arising in the United States was likely due to the fact that many Americans equate a bow with an apology. "There are hard-headed people in the United States who feel their nation is always No. 1 and should always be respected by other nations. Probably people like former President George W. Bush."

Comments by those who saw Obama bow on Internet sites were split along national lines. Americans said the president would be the laughingstock of the world for bowing to leaders of other nations. Japanese who sent in comments to those sites said the criticism in the United States represented arrogance and the feeling that they were still occupiers of Japan.

[Catoneinutica]