Obama Bows to Jap Emperor

[Fate]

If it gets GOPtard panties in a bunch, then by all means, kiss the Emperor's feet.

[PRC]

Obama must now cut his belly open.

[Syt]

Could some of our resident Nipponologists (Jacob?) shed some light on bowing protocol?

I guess the "lower rank" gets to bow deeper, but does the location factor into it? I.e. would it be appropriate for the Tenno to request such a bow in the White House?

[Viking]

Here you go Akihito bowing.


In Japan Bowing is not the act of submission that it is in the west. It is something one does to one's equals and inferiors as well as to one's betters.

However, this bowing while shaking hands thing is done by Norwegian Royalty all the time.

[Admiral Yi]

The deepest bow (45 degrees) is for superiors.

[Sahib]

I usually don't care much about symbolism, but as head of state he should not bow to other head of states.

What about descendants of the Sun godess?

[Mr.Penguin]

I am sure they are just comparing shoe size...

[DisturbedPervert]

The deepest bow (45 degrees) is for superiors.

Emperor of Japan gets a 45 degree bow.  King of Saudi Arabia gets a 65 degree bow.  Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth gets an iPod with Obama's speeches.

[Kleves]

I usually don't care much about symbolism, but as head of state he should not bow to other head of states.

Obama would bow to anyone if he thought it would make him more popular.

[The Brain]

According to the pic Obama managed to squeeze a 5 degree bow out of the Emp. LIKE FOR LIKE

[Martinus]

Wow, derspiess, you frequent a great site. I especially liked the comments under the article.

Calling the President "a half-nigger muslim dirtbag" is nowhere near the criticism Bush was getting from the left, no?

[Martinus]

I usually don't care much about symbolism, but as head of state he should not bow to other head of states.

Obama would bow to anyone if he thought it would make him more popular.

And the problem with that is exactly what? 

This approach can be problematic when actual resources are being expended, yes. But when we are talking about symbolic gestures that do not cost anything, isn't their only purpose to gain popularity? So as long as they serve the purpose (more people like it than not like it), those who do not like it are an inherent cost, and can be disregarded.

[Tamas]

I usually don't care much about symbolism, but as head of state he should not bow to other head of states.

Obama would bow to anyone if he thought it would make him more popular.

And the problem with that is exactly what? 

This approach can be problematic when actual resources are being expended, yes. But when we are talking about symbolic gestures that do not cost anything, isn't their only purpose to gain popularity? So as long as they serve the purpose (more people like it than not like it), those who do not like it are an inherent cost, and can be disregarded.

You really do not understand the significance of "symbolic gestures"?  The entire reason of their existence is that they carry meaning.

[Eddie Teach]

Wow, derspiess, you frequent a great site. I especially liked the comments under the article.

Calling the President "a half-nigger muslim dirtbag" is nowhere near the criticism Bush was getting from the left, no?

I believe the Times is LA's main newspaper.

[DisturbedPervert]

Wow, derspiess, you frequent a great site.

Indeed.  The LA Times is a well known right wing radical rag.