“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” Nishiachi Elementary School Edition (Broadcast November 29, 2025) 〜 What Makes Nishiachi Elementary School Special: More Than 1,200 Students and Plenty of Exchange Across Grade Levels

On FM Kurashiki, “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” is broadcast 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 the appeal of the schools and their districts, and interview children who talk about their big dreams. Hearing directly from the children offers a fresh appreciation of the region’s charms.

The November 29, 2025 (Saturday) broadcast featured a look at Nishi-Achi Elementary School in Nishi-Achi-cho, Kurashiki City.

Here are the lively voices of the children.

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

The information presented was accurate when this article was published in January 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.

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

“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” interviews sixth graders at the schools it visits to take a closer look at what makes their school special. Also worth noting is “District Pride,” which introduces the good things about the area and what the children like about it, as seen from an elementary school student’s perspective.

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

This time, we visited Nishi-Achi Elementary School in Nishi-Achi-cho, Kurashiki City. With more than 1,200 students, it is a large school where lively exchange takes place across grade levels.

We asked the children to tell us what makes Nishi-Achi Elementary School special.

About Nishi-Achi Elementary School

The first to introduce the school was Kobayashi Nobuharu. Calm and confident, he told us three things he likes about Nishi-Achi Elementary School.

The first is the “Special Greeting” initiative carried out throughout the school.
By greeting people by name, the school is filled with cheerful voices, he said.

The second is the wide range of events that bring together younger and older students.
These include a sports festival, an arts presentation, the “Wanpaku Festival,” where students run their own stalls, and “Fureai Day,” when students clean in mixed-grade groups. There are many opportunities to meet lots of classmates and become friends across grade levels, which is another appealing feature.

The third is volunteer activities led by older students.
Sixth graders take the lead in greeting people in the morning, cleaning hallways and stairs, and helping first graders. The other day, they all wore black “Wadachi T-shirts,” printed with “Wadachi,” their grade’s motto, as they took part in volunteer work.

“Through these volunteer activities, I want to leave lots of ‘Wadachi’ behind at the school,” Kobayashi said.

At Nishi-Achi Elementary School, we found lively exchange made possible by its large student body, as well as an environment that nurtures compassion.

“What We Love About Our School and District,” According to Nishi-Achi Elementary School Students

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

Three children shared what they like about Nishi-Achi Elementary School in a ranked list.

Third Place: Lively Days Spent with More Than 1,200 Schoolmates

Misao Mai’s third-place pick is that Nishi-Achi Elementary School is the largest school in Kurashiki City.

As of 2025, the school had 1,261 students.
There are about 30 students in each class, and the third grade reportedly has as many as seven classes. “School life is lively and fun when you’re surrounded by so many friends,” Misao said.

Even when they grow up, they may have plenty of chances to meet people who went to the same school.

Second Place: Greeting Campaigns and Cleaning Volunteering by All Sixth Graders

Takahashi Akane named the volunteer activities undertaken by all sixth graders as her second-place pick.

The sixth graders reportedly put a lot of effort into the greeting campaigns and cleaning volunteer work mentioned in the school introduction.

Their unity and compassion as they work to make their school better may be what brightens and supports the entire Nishi-Achi Elementary School community.

First Place: Local Residents Who Kindly Watch Over Us on Our Way to School

Kawai Koki announced the top pick. He told us about the warmth and kindness of local residents.

Because there are so many students, the roads can get somewhat crowded at school arrival and dismissal times. But drivers kindly wait at pedestrian crossings. Thanks to the kindness of local residents, more than 1,200 students can make their way to school safely every day.

Some local residents also exchange greetings with students along the way, and Kawai says, “It helps me start the day feeling good.”

Being watched over by so many people outside school and having a safe environment is something this district can truly be proud of.

Nishi-Achi Elementary School, with the largest student body in Kurashiki, offers many activities that foster unity. I think the children can enjoy school freely because of the warm exchange with local residents. It will surely continue to be a school filled with smiles and compassion.

Thank you to everyone at Nishi-Achi Elementary School.

Children’s voices as they look to the future

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

Fifteen students answered our questions this time.
Some hope to become athletes, veterinarians, dancers, or announcers, while others aspire to become teachers, inspired by their teachers at Nishi-Achi Elementary School. It’s exciting to imagine what the future holds for them.

The children’s determination to take on challenges fueled by the things they love gave us adults great courage and inspiration, too.

Thank you to everyone at Nishi-Achi Elementary School.