“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” Kojima Elementary School Edition (Broadcast September 27, 2025)～What makes Kojima Elementary School special, where lively and cheerful students gather under the symbol of the Usuzumi Cherry Tree?

On FM Kurashiki, “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” airs every Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Hosted by Asuka Abe, the program visits elementary schools in Kurashiki City to report on what makes the schools and their districts special, and to hear children talk about their big dreams. Hearing directly from the children offers a fresh appreciation of the region’s appeal.

The September 27, 2025 (Saturday) broadcast featured “Kojima Elementary School” in Kojima, Kurashiki City.

Here are the voices of these energetic children.

This article was contributed by FM Kurashiki Co., Ltd. It was edited and published by the editorial team of Haretoco General Incorporated Association.

The information in this article was current when it was published in November 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.

FM Kurashiki’s “Gather Around! Elementary School Students”

On “Gather Around! Elementary School Students,” the hosts interview sixth graders at the schools they visit, taking a closer look at what makes each school special. Also featured is “District Pride,” where children share what they like about their local area from an elementary school student’s perspective.

The program also features heartwarming interviews that may move adults as much as children, as students talk about their exciting dreams for the future or express gratitude to the family members who are always by their side.

This time, the program visited Kojima Elementary School in Kojima, Kurashiki City. Around 488 students enjoy their school life with boundless energy.

Let’s hear from the children about what makes Kojima Elementary School special.

About Kojima Elementary School

The first to introduce the school is Yuto Ishihara.
He says he is “looking forward to presenting,” so let’s ask Ishihara about three things that make Kojima Elementary School special.

The first is the school’s symbol, the Usuzumi-zakura cherry tree.
The tree’s name is also used as the title of the school newsletter issued by the principal. Around the time of the entrance ceremony, the Usuzumi-zakura blossoms beautifully on the school grounds, warmly welcoming the new first graders alongside the entire student body.

The second is the traditional motto “Three As,” carefully passed down by generations of students.
The “Three As” stand for aisatsu (greetings), atoshimatsu (cleaning up after yourself), and arigato (thank you). The whole school works toward becoming a better place, striving every day to do the basics well, such as greeting others and lining up their shoes neatly.

The third and final thing is that students are close not only with their classmates but also with friends in other grades.
For example, during “Friendship Week” in June, students enjoyed connecting across grades by exchanging Happy Letters and pairing older and younger students to play together.

Ishihara said, “I want to make our energetic and cheerful Kojima Elementary School an even more wonderful school.”

Kojima Elementary School students share what makes their school and district special

Next, we’ll introduce what the children are proud of about their school and district.

Three elementary school students told us what they love about their district.

1. Nakayama Park: a favorite for school events and free time

The first presenter is An Hatabe.
Hatabe told us she is proud of Nakayama Park.

Nakayama Park is located near the center of Kojima and has facilities where visitors can exercise and play freely, including tennis courts, a baseball field, and a beautiful pond. The spacious athletics stadium is used by sixth graders from across Kojima for their track and field meet.

There are also fun playground structures, so children from Kojima Elementary School often go there after school and on holidays. It has become an irreplaceable and cherished place to play for local children.

2. Keeping the neighborhood safe: the first pedestrian bridge in Kojima

Next, Sumire Katayama told us she is proud of the pedestrian bridge in front of the main gate of Kojima Elementary School.

This historic bridge was built in 1968 and is said to be the first pedestrian bridge in Kojima. It is still in use as of 2025, continuing to watch over local children as they travel to and from school.

It is a place to be proud of, rooted in the region’s history and continuing to help everyone get to school safely.

3. Kojima Marine Pool, where you can make summer memories

Finally, Yuina Yamachi introduced Kojima Marine Pool.

Kojima Marine Pool has 50-meter pools both indoors and outdoors, making it a place to enjoy swimming regardless of the weather. There is also a fountain outdoors, where small children can safely enjoy playing in the water.

Although the pool is at the southernmost end of the school district, it is closer than the beach, making it an appealing place to visit casually with friends during summer vacation. For the children of Kojima Elementary School, it is an essential and cherished place to make summer memories.

The places the children told us about in the Kojima school district offer plenty of facilities where they can exercise and play freely. I feel I understand a little better why the children of Kojima Elementary School are growing up so full of energy.

Children’s voices as they look to the future

After hearing all about what makes their school special, we also asked about everyone’s dreams for the future.

Sixteen students answered our questions this time.
We heard a wide range of answers, from dreams of becoming firefighters, hairdressers, nail artists, and bassists to the big dream of becoming a “world karate champion.” It’s exciting to imagine what the future holds for them.

The children’s determination to take on challenges inspired by the things they love gave us adults great courage and moved us deeply.

Thank you to everyone at Kojima Elementary School.

From the Writer

Through the voices of children, “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” will continue to share the appeal of schools and local communities with you.

With every school visit, we could see how children grow each day with the warm support of their teachers and local community.

FM Kurashiki will continue to watch over the children of the region, so they can grow up healthy and enjoy their lives.