Japan's reaction to Obama bowing before the Emperor

[AsahinaKimi]

During Barack Obama’s first presidential visit to Japan, he managed to work in a private lunch with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The lunch, which lasted about an hour, was reported to have just been the three of them plus one interpreter. While the topics of their lunchtime conversation remain a mystery, the Japanese media delightedly reported on the event, stating how Obama made a polite short English greeting before entering the palace.

http://www.examiner.com/x-16352-Japan-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m11d15-Japans-reaction-to-Obama-bowing-before-the-Emperor?cid=examiner-email

Japanese reaction:
# “What a bow!”
# “Such a deep bow from Obama, what a fine guy.”
# “I’m surprised he bowed. He’s really trying hard to meet the Japanese way!”
# “President Obama is a top-class person, isn’t he? Amazing!”
# “The Emperor is giving a nice smile!”
# “Is the Japanese Emperor really that special?”
# “The Emperor or the Pope, the President or the Prime Minister, whoever is greater is not something that I think can be decided objectively.”
# “I laughed because it was a much better bow than I had imagined.”
# “Obama’s huge!”
# “Obama has more of a true Japanese heart than most Japanese do.”