TOKYO, Japan, November 16, 2009 (WSFB-AC) - In what may become perhaps the single most historic event in hip-hop history, U.S. President Barack Obama, “bent over to the front, touched his toes, backed his ass up and down, and got low” for Emperor Akihito during his visit to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday.

We may never know the if Obama had the “right angle” on the greeting, but we can speculate as to why President O-bow-ma looked more like Michael Phelps in the blocks at a swim meet than the Leader of the Free World.

Top Ten Reasons Barack Obama Got Low

10.  The weight of the Nobel Peace Prize medal he still wears under his shirt caused him to collapse.

9   He was looking on the ground for change to help pay the $770B of U.S. debt financed by the Chinese.

8.  He wanted to subtly give the 1,500 Japanese onlookers and diplomats the “stinkeye”.

7.  His aides left his spine aboard Air Force One.

6.  He shaved a yin-yang symbol into the top of his head and wanted to show the Emperor he is in tune with Asian culture.

5.  He saw The Karate Kid last week and thought he was greeting Mr. Miyagi.

4.  He was trying to catch a glimpse up Empress Michiko’s kimono off the high shine on his Johnston and Murphy’s.

3.  He thought a simple hygienic fist-bump would be awkward.

2.  It was better than saying “WWII, our bad.”

1.  Dick Cheney told him it would be “cooler” than Bush’s backrub of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.