Obama bows to emperor akihito biography

President Obama bowed (rather deeply) to the emperor of Japan over the weekend, providing ample fodder for his conservative detractors. Former Vice President Cheney, for one, said “There is no reason for an American president to bow to anyone. … Our friends and allies don’t expect it, and our enemies see it as a sign of weakness.” In Japan, bows are standard accompaniments to formal greetings. And as anyone who’s seen a period drama about Colonial America knows well, bows were once standard here, too. When did Americans stop bowing?

Not until the early 20^th century, although by then it was uncommon. It’s difficult to trace the history of gestures, but based on textual evidence, we know there was a fair amount of bowing during Colonial times. In tracts and sermons, 17^th century Puritan ministers exhorted those of inferior station to lower their eyes and bow upon meeting a superior—a “sign of honour and veneration … [and a] testimony of submissio