Gather Around! Elementary School Students: Kotoura Nishi Elementary School Edition (Aired November 1, 2025)～ Growing Together with the Community at Kotoura Nishi Elementary School, Experiencing the Town’s Industries Up Close Through School Uniforms and Jeans

“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” is broadcast on FM Kurashiki every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

In the program, host Asuka Abe visits elementary schools in Kurashiki City to report on the schools and their districts, and interview children about what they love about them and their big dreams. Hearing directly from the children offers a fresh appreciation of the region’s appeal.

The November 1, 2025 (Saturday) broadcast introduced life at Koto-ura Nishi 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 presented was current when the article was published in December 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 elementary schools they visit, taking a closer look at what makes each school special. The program also features “What We Love About Our District,” where children share what they like about their local area from their own perspective.

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

This time, the program visited Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School in Kojima, Kurashiki City. Once a month, the school holds “Jeans Day,” a Kojima-specific initiative, when some students come to school wearing jeans instead of their uniforms.

The children were eager to tell us what makes Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School special.

About Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School

Hasegawa Nono introduced the school. Amid warm applause, she shared four things the school is proud of.

The first is the monthly “Jeans Day.”
On this day, students may wear either their uniforms or their own clothes. Kojima is a region with a thriving jeans industry, and wearing jeans gives students an opportunity to think about what makes their community special. Some teachers wear jeans too, creating a different atmosphere from a typical school day, she said.

The second point of pride is “mixed-grade group activities,” which help students build connections across grade levels.
Hasegawa said one of the biggest attractions is that students make many friends in other grades through cleaning and playing together.

The third is the “Morning Project.”
Students come up with ways to make their school better and put them into practice. For example, sixth graders support younger students, and students work hard to keep the school clean, helping create a wonderful school life.

The fourth and final point is that the teachers are kind.
Although they are sometimes scolded sternly, Hasegawa said, “We know it’s all for our sake.” The teachers listening to her presentation looked pleased, too.

With special days that celebrate the local community, cooperative activities across grade levels, and the teachers’ warm guidance, Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School has much to be proud of.

“What We Love About Our School and District,” as Told by Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School Students

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

Three elementary school students told us what makes their school and district special.

1. Locally made school uniforms and jeans are part of everyday life

First up was Yoshizaki Anji, who spoke about the appeal of the Koto-ura Nishi school district, where “the jeans and school uniform industries are thriving.”

Salt was once produced in Kojima. This led to the cultivation of salt-resistant cotton, which in turn gave rise to the textile industries producing jeans and school uniforms.

Right near Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School are a uniform factory run by Nippon Hifuku and the Jeans Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of jeans. Students get the chance to visit the factory in third or fourth grade, and learn about the efforts of the people who make clothes and appreciate the quality of the garments.

Kojima’s world-renowned textile industry is close at hand, and being able to learn about its history and craftsmanship is a special point of pride for Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School.

2. The warm support of local people

Next, Shiote Rise shared “the kindness of local people” as something she is proud of.

Local people watch over the school routes every day, rain or shine. Shiote said she is happy when they greet her warmly with words like, “Have a good day!” and “Take care!”

There is also thoughtful, warm support, such as morning greeting activities and grass cutting in the summer. Many former students of Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School live in the area, and she said she is proud that everyone works together to make the whole community a safe and secure place to live.

3. The local festival, “Takahachiman-gu Rei Taisai”

The final student to speak was Chinen Nanami. She said that “the district’s appeal is that festivals are popular here.”

Every autumn, the major local festival “Takahachiman-gu Rei Taisai” is held.

At the festival, people split into groups by neighborhood to pull danjiri floats and parade around the area while playing musical instruments. Highlights also include passing through the shrine gate and racing up a steep slope, making for an impressive spectacle.

Starting in summer, everyone gathers at places such as the Community Center to practice playing instruments and chanting. Even those who do not take part in the festival enjoy the day together by cheering on the participants or eating delicious food at the stalls.

The Takahachiman-gu Rei Taisai, which brings the community together, has become an autumn tradition for the children, too.

Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School places great importance on the culture and industries of its district. Being able to feel that the industries of the town where they live are close to them is itself one of the community’s attractions. Let’s continue to watch over the children of Koto-ura Nishi Elementary School and hope they thrive!

The voices of children looking to the future

After hearing so much about what makes the school special, we also asked the children about their dreams for the future.

Sixteen students took part in the interviews. They shared dreams of becoming veterinarians, game creators, pastry chefs, and bakers—and one fun dream was “traveling around the world with friends.” It’s exciting to imagine what the future holds for them.

The children’s determination to pursue what they love gave us adults great courage and moved us deeply.

Thank you to everyone at Koto-ura Nishi 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 have seen how children grow each day with the warm support of their teachers and local community.

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