“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” airs on FM Kurashiki every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. 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 interview children about their big dreams. Hearing directly from the children offers a fresh appreciation of the region’s appeal.
The November 15, 2025 (Saturday) broadcast featured Amagi Elementary School in Fujito-cho, Kurashiki City.
Here are the lively voices of the children.
This article was contributed by FM Kurashiki Co., Ltd. The editorial team of Haretoco General Incorporated Association edited and published it.
The information in this article was current when it was published in January 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
FM Kurashiki’s “Gather Around! Elementary School Students”
On “Gather Around! Elementary School Students,” we interview sixth graders at the schools we visit to take a closer look at what makes their school special. Also featured is “What We’re Proud of About Our District,” where children share what they like about their community from their own perspective.
The program also features heartwarming interviews that may even move adults, as children talk about their exciting dreams for the future and express their gratitude to the family members who are always by their side.
This time, we visited Amagi Elementary School in Fujito-cho, Kurashiki City. The school district, rich in history, is filled with the cheerful voices of its energetic students.
We asked the children to tell us what makes Amagi Elementary School special.
About Amagi Elementary School
First to introduce the school was Natsuki Kimura. In a cheerful voice, she told us about three things that make Amagi Elementary School special.
The first is the many events held throughout the year.
From the “Welcome First Graders” and “Sports Presentation” in the first term, to the “School Trip” and “Arts Presentation” in the second term, and the “Send-Off for Sixth Graders” and “Graduation Ceremony” in the third term, the school calendar is packed with memorable events.
Kimura said she is especially looking forward to the school trip. She told us she is working hard on her tests and preparations because she is excited to drink water from Otowa Waterfall at Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
The second thing she likes is being able to focus on cleaning.
Every Thursday is a special day when students clean quietly and diligently, and all the children concentrate on their work. The students who work especially hard are featured on a school TV broadcast by the Beautification Committee as “Mokumoku MVPs.”
The last thing she told us about was the active committee activities.
Kimura, who is a member of the broadcasting committee, told us that she works hard every day with her classmates to make broadcasts that everyone can hear easily. Every committee takes initiative to help the school, and it was clear that these efforts are making Amagi Elementary School a better place.
Amagi Elementary School was a lively school that fosters initiative through cleaning and committee activities.
“What We’re Proud of About Our School and District,” According to Amagi Elementary School Students
Next, we’ll introduce what the children are proud of about their school and district.
Three children shared what makes Amagi Elementary School special, ranking their answers.
3rd Place: Lively Greetings That Connect Us with the Community
Towa Mori told us that the third-place point of pride was “lively greetings.”
At Amagi Elementary School, the student council leads a greeting campaign every Wednesday, and a cute greeting mascot also takes part.
At school arrival time, local residents also gather to watch over the children’s safety and exchange cheerful greetings with them. Mori told us that hearing lively greetings in the morning makes her feel positive and ready to “do my best today.”
She also said that one of the school’s great points of pride is that cheerful greetings are exchanged not only when students arrive, but also at lunchtime and when they leave.
2nd Place: The Red Moritsuna Bridge, a City Landmark Steeped in History
Yume Oshige told us that the second-place choice was “Moritsuna Bridge.” This red bridge over the Kurashiki River, which flows right beside the school, is said to have been built in 1647 and to have a very long history.
The bridge is named after Minamoto no Moritsuna, a Minamoto clan warrior who distinguished himself in the Genpei War. There is also an impressive statue of Moritsuna riding a horse into battle, making the bridge a symbol of the area’s history.
At Amagi Elementary School, students learn about local history in class, including the story of Minamoto no Moritsuna.
The children cross this bridge every day on their way to and from school. I thought it was a historical point of pride unique to Amagi Elementary School, unlike anything other schools have.
1st Place: A Traditional Local Favorite, Fujito Manju
The well-deserved first place went to “Fujito Manju,” as Gennosuke Fujimura told us.
Fujito Manju is a famous confection representing Okayama Prefecture, with a history dating back to the Genpei War. Okayama-born professional baseball player Keita Sano of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars has also reportedly served Fujito Manju to members of the press.
These manju, with sweet smooth red bean paste wrapped in a thin crust, are praised as “delicious” even by people from outside the prefecture. Fujimura recommended them, saying, “If you haven’t tried them, please give them a taste!”
Having a confection with such a long history and such a high profile in Kurashiki and Okayama within their school district seems to be a great source of pride for the students.
Amagi Elementary School’s district is home to many places and local specialties that evoke its history. I hope it will continue to be a community where history lives on and the children’s lively voices keep ringing out.
Thank you to everyone at Amagi Elementary School.
Children’s Voices as They Look to the Future
After hearing all about what makes the school special, we also asked the children about their dreams for the future.
Twenty students answered our questions this time.
They shared fun dreams of becoming athletes, childcare workers, emergency medical technicians, teachers, and more. 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 inspiration.
Thank you to everyone at Amagi Elementary School.
From the Writer
Through the voices of children, “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” will continue to share what makes schools and their communities special.
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.
Articles About FM Kurashiki
FM Kurashiki “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” Information
| Name | FM Kurashiki “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” |
|---|---|
| Address | 520-28 Hakurakucho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-430-0828 |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
You can also listen to “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” on the FM Kurashiki website.