article_snippet: Mrs Obama has had an awkward start to Mrs Obama visit to Japan as Mrs Obama was pictured towering over Emperor Akihito and stumbling as Mrs Obama tried to bow, shake his hand and curtsey at once.
article_snippet: The First Lady, dressed in a florid combination of a blazer and skirt, dwarfed  Emperor Akihito in Mrs Obama silver stilettos, while Emperor Akihito maintained Emperor Akihito composure and smiled politely.
article_snippet: Mrs Obama then squatted slightly while shaking his hand, seemingly trying to disguise the difference of height between them.
article_snippet: Mrs Obama, who is 5ft 9in tall, also caused embarrassment earlier in the day when Mrs Obama 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.
article_snippet: Michelle Obama stumbles as Michelle Obama attempts an awkward combination of curtsey, western handshake and Japanese bow when meeting Emperor Akihito in Tokyo.
article_snippet: Matters were not helped by the fact that Michelle Obama towers over Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe .
article_snippet: as The Japanese Emperor greets Mrs Obama, who squats slightly as Michelle Obama tries to disguise the dramatic height difference between them .
article_snippet: Don't look down on me: Michelle Obama is back to Michelle Obama full height, but the incline of Michelle Obama head indicates that Michelle Obama remains intensely aware of the fact that Michelle Obama is at least a head taller than Emperor Akihito, centre, and Michelle Obama wife, Empress Michiko, right .
highlights_snippet: Mrs Obama towered over Emperor Akihito and stumbled as Mrs Obama tried to bow, shake Mrs Obama hand and curtsey at once .
  