Archive for the ‘President Obama’ tag
How low will he go? Obama gives Japan’s Emperor Akihito a wow bow
November 14, 2009 | 3:38 am
Los Angeles Times, 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012
Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP
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. RememberMichelle 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.
