How Do Japanese Children Safely Go To School On Their Own?
https://chiku.setagayashakyo.or.jp/member/detail/1136 Fig. Students say Good Morning to the volunteer Japanese kids go to school on their own. Every weekday morning from 7:45 to 8:25, volunteers stand at checkpoints to watch over the kids and ensure they arrive at school safely. Positioned strategically to control traffic when kids are crossing, the volunteers warmly greet them by saying, “Good morning. Have a safe walk.” “(Ohayo gozaimasu. Itte rasshai) As one of these volunteers, I can share what typically happens when I greet the kids. About 100 students pass by me, so I say "Good morning. Have a safe walk" around 100 times. Surprisingly, most of them bow to me with a cheerful "Good morning." When a kid does this, before I greet him/her, I intentionally raise my voice so others who follow can hear, exclaiming, "Wow, you’re so polite! Amazing. Have a fantastic day!" In response, several children who come after that particular kid also bow