Last weekend US President Obama visited Japan for some greeting, sushi, and talks about relocating military bases in Okinawa. The usual stuff a visiting president does when in Japan. Normally this would be a big non-issue for any other president, but as usual, because it’s Obama it has caused a storm of dumb controversy.

Oh its not about anything important, it’s because Obama bowed when greeting the Emperor (as you probably had guessed by the title and the picture). Now take a moment and think about that. Visiting President, some big political talks, meeting the figurehead of the state, bowing. How is that a problem? From a personal viewpoint maybe he bowed a bit too much, though the man is a giant compared to the Emperor. If anything he should have bowed first, THEN done the handshake. I know, I know. How dare a president show respect when a guest in someone else’s home.

What do you guys think? Bow too much? Or not far enough?

(A couple of fun facts in case this becomes heated. 1) Not the same Emperor as WW2, as many people apparently think. 2) Nixon bowed to that Emperor when he visited the US, Bush Senior went to his funeral. 3) Bush Senior also threw up on their Prime Minister. Remember that one kids? I’m old…)

(Via Joshua Zimmerman)