Washington, Nov 17 (DPA) President Barack Obama's deep bow to the Japanese emperor during a weekend visit in Tokyo has been met with sharp criticism from conservatives in the United States.

Conservatives took to the airwaves and blogosphere Monday to rip Obama's gesture as subservient, inappropriate and a sign of weakness, with one rightwing blogger going as far to call it 'treasonous'.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted Obama for a meeting Saturday. As Obama shook Akihito's hand, he bowed a full 90 degrees forward.

Blogging on the Los Angeles Times, Andrew Malcolm said the move might score him some points in Japan but will surely elicit frowns back home.

'How low will the new American president go for the world's royalty?' Malcolm wrote, pointing out that vice president Dick Cheney's simple handshake with Akihito in 2007 was the proper way to greet the emperor.

Obama received similar criticism when he offered more of a half-bow to Saudi King Abdullah in April, prompting The Washington Times to editorialize it as a 'shocking display of fealty.'

A senior administration official has dismissed the criticism, telling Politico it's 'just way, way, way off base.' State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said it was merely 'a sign of respect to the emperor.'