http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3002178/Michelle-Obama-towers-Japanese-Emperor-Akihito-smiles-awkwardly.htmlThe height of etiquette: Michelle Obama towers over Japanese emperor as she stumbles in silver stilettos while attempting awkward curtsey
Mrs Obama towered over Emperor Akihito and stumbled as she tried to bow, shake his hand and curtsey at once
She also grabbed Japan's First Lady in a hug-and-handshake combination while she was mid-bow
The awkward trip is being described as a 'makeup call' after Mrs Obama failed to accompany the President to Japan last year
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By Jake Wallis Simons For Mailonline
Published: 04:56 EST, 19 March 2015 | Updated: 09:42 EST, 19 March 2015
Michelle Obama has had an awkward start to her visit to Japan as she was pictured towering over Emperor Akihito and stumbling as she tried to bow, shake his hand and curtsey at once.
The First Lady, dressed in a florid combination of a blazer and skirt, dwarfed the Emperor in her silver stilettos, while he maintained his composure and smiled politely. She then squatted slightly while shaking his hand, seemingly trying to disguise the difference of height between them.
Mrs Obama, who is 5ft 9in tall, also caused embarrassment earlier in the day when she grabbed Akie Abe, wife of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a hug-and-handshake combination while the Japanese First Lady was trying to bow.
I'm going in: Michelle Obama stumbles as she attempts an awkward combination of curtsey, western handshake and Japanese bow when meeting Emperor Akihito in Tokyo. Matters were not helped by the fact that she towers over him
Just nod and smile: The Japanese Emperor is the height of politeness as he greets Mrs Obama, who squats slightly as she tries to disguise the dramatic height difference between them
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