Lordy….President Obama’s in trouble again. The Commander-In-Chief greeted Japan’s emperor with a deep bow when the two meet in Tokyo over the weekend, sparking debate that Obama was disgracing Americans by groveling to a foreign leader. The President introduced himself to Emperor Akihito, whose father ruled when Japan bombed a US naval base at Pearl Harbour in 1941, with a handshake and nearly 90-degree bow, setting the stage for a hot debate and furious criticism from politicos on the Interwebs.

Experts in Japanese etiquette disagree.

The gesture went largely unnoticed in Japan and experts in Asian etiquette are praising Obama for an appropriate show of respect:

“Bowing is an expression of respect and open-mindedness as a person greets someone,” said Reiko Kasai, chief instructor at JAL Academy, an intercultural training school. “It is part of a greeting with which one shows his or her willingness for the meeting,” she said.

“Bowgate” isn’t the first uproar of its kind. Former President Clinton was also criticized for almost bowing to Akihito in 1994. In 2005, former President George W Bush, a Republican, was mocked for holding Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah’s hand, a traditional sign of friendship in the Middle East.