Obama bow: The Japanese perspective

Our Man talked to three (highly unrepresentative) Japanese folk about the Obama bow. All three wondered what the fuss was about. None of them thought he had humiliated the US by bowing too deeply or shaking hands, or not crossing his fingers behind his back. None of them could understand why the right in America acted like America's honour had been besmirched.*

Enough already.

But it's true, Mr O. didn't bow to the Queen. The cad.

*In fact, Our Man, as resident alien, found himself trying to explain why anyone in America would be offended. Our Man tried, in order, a) because the emperor is the son of the guy that was emperor in the war (this got shrugs) and b) because no American should bow to anyone, because, er, America is so much more important than anywhere else. Which got resigned knowing looks. Then Our Man got it: c) Dunno, they must be mad. This was the correct answer, as far as the locals can ascertain.