Japanese classes always start and end with the same procedure which is to rise, bow, and sit when the teacher arrives and leaves. Japan is a very polite society with various degrees of formality in their language, gestures, and greetings. Many may know that it is considered polite to bow lower than your superior upon greeting. It is also appropriate to bow down in submission with the head touching the floor when asking for permission, forgiveness, or any other request that is akin to begging with all your heart.
Going back to the greeting, a student is elected to make the announcement to rise, bow, and sit. Upon calling out “Kiritsu”, all students stand, “Rei” is their cue to bow, and “Chakuseki” ends the interchange calling all students to sit. All students learn this procedure upon entering elementary school and will do this until the end of their school life.
I’ve actually had the experience of doing this during my senior year of high school and it’s a very interesting experience. After the novelty wears off, it just becomes a standard procedure that is done every day and becomes part of the class lesson. I must say though that it was a bit funny trying to get the whole class to sync up and do everything at the same time.
