I know, I know, "Bowgate" is an utterly ridiculous triviality that does not merit serious discussion. Thankfully, I'm just a little burnt out on serious discussion at the moment. I need a moment of levity so, believe me, I understand that no one is going to take this diary as making any serious points.
Or does it? Have you heard about "Handshake Gate"?
First of all, I know nothing about the proper etiquette for bowing in Japan. So, I turned to the handy dandy Intertubes for an answer: what is all this bowing stuff about anyhow
Hmm, it turns out that
Bowing in Japan has many functions in one. It expresses the feeling of respect, thanking, apologizing, greeting, and so on. For example, you can bow, when you say, "thank you", "sorry", "hello", "good bye", " welcome", "congratulations", "excuse me", "good night", "good morning", and more
So, bowing could be a form of respectful greeting. Interesting. Ah, but there's more,
there are some different ways of bowing. It depends on the social status or age of the person you bow to. If the person is higher status or older than you are, it's common to bow deeper and longer, showing respect
Well it seems that if you want to show respect to someone elder in Japan, then a long and relatively low bow is appropriate. I see. It also seems that
A more formal way of bowing is performed to a 45-degree angle looking down at your feet. This type of bow signifies deep gratitude, a respectful greeting, a formal apology, asking for favors, and so on
There's that respectful greeting again.
Well it's good to know this information. In fact, I have some Japanese friends and when I was introduced to (his) parents I had no idea what to do. Now I get how to bow to express a respectful greeting to a Japanese person.
But it occurs to me that in American culture, a respectful greeting is expressed, many times, by a firm, brief handshake while looking into the eyes of the other person. Yes, yes I'd say that's correct. A firm, brief handshake, eye contact, that's how we do it here.
So, what was Emperor Akihito thinking here?
Clearly, at :05 and then again at :07 the Emperor made eye contact while clasping President Obama's hand. Has there ever been a more egregious expression of respect obeisance from a Japanese Emperor to a United States President? I've looked all over the English-language press in Japan, however, and see no sign of a wingnut explosion of outrage at this outrageous outrage. How dare Emperor Akihito express respect for grovel before his guest in the manner of that guest's cultural heritage? Are there no Teabagging Patriots in Japan? Is there no Japanese Glenn Beck? What, oh what, is this once proud nation coming to? If only Sarah Palin could see Japan from the porch of her house! I mean, it's one thing for President Obama to express respect debase himself before his host, but it is clearly beyond belief that Emperor Akihito would actually show respect deign to touch a President of the United States dirty Kenyan usurper.