If you've been following current (and by now slightly-less-current events), you probably know that US President Barack Obama paid a visit to Glorious Nippon, scoring a lunch date with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

That would be pretty much all that needs to be said, unless of course you follow the American news media, in which case the President would have committed the faux pas of the century by (gasp!) bowing. Clearly, this is the beginning of the end, if the searing flame he took from the commentariat is any sign of things.

Thankfully for English-speakers less obsessive over minutiae, the San Francisco Examiner's Japan Headlines section went and translated various 2ch and forum comments over what some Americans are regarding as Pearl Harbor all over again:

“Such a deep bow from Obama, what a fine guy.”

“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.”

About the only real faux pas noted was that he combo'd a bow with a handshake, which just made him look silly. But don't worry, Mr. President, Japan still likes you! They gave you a verb, one that has a nice meaning, to boot.

Yes, it is indeed a slow news morning.