“Gather Around, Elementary School Students!” Toyosu Elementary School Edition (Aired December 13, 2025) 〜 Creating a Joyful School Together at Toyosu Elementary, Surrounded by Abundant Nature

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

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

In the episode broadcast on Saturday, December 13, 2025, we introduced what life is like at Toyosu Elementary School in Nishida, 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 Toyosu Elementary School in Nishida, Kurashiki City.
With a history dating back to the Meiji era, Toyosu Elementary School is a traditional school with more than 150 years of history. In the 2025 school year, 301 students attend the school.

We asked the children to tell us what makes Toyosu Elementary School special.

About Toyosu Elementary School

The first to introduce the school was Ogihara Yuna. She carefully explained what makes Toyosu Elementary School special.

Ogihara said that what she likes about Toyosu Elementary School is that “everyone works together to create a school filled with smiles.” She said that students deepen their friendships through events enjoyed by the whole school, such as the Friend Festival and Friendship Group Activities. She also noted that committees and individual classes plan events to make the school even more lively.

The school’s mascot, “Toyoppy,” is also an essential part of school life. Toyoppy appears alongside the principal on the lunchtime TV broadcast and helps bring smiles to the whole school by introducing the good points of each grade.

The school is also proud of its rich natural surroundings.
At Toyosu Forest, students can observe insects and trees as the seasons change, while the two playgrounds to the north and south give them plenty of room to run around during recess and PE classes.

Ogihara said, “While cherishing our 150-year history, I hope Toyosu Elementary School will continue to be a place filled with smiles.” Her introduction made us want to support the school community’s efforts to build a school together.

“What We Love About Our School and District,” as Told by Toyosu Elementary School Students

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

Three children told us what makes Toyosu Elementary School and its district special.

1. The experience of growing glutinous rice and learning from nature through the seasons

The first to speak was Zushi Akari. Zushi told us about the abundant nature and vast rice fields surrounding the school.

The rice fields, which change their appearance with each season, always bring the students a sense of calm.
With guidance from local residents, students plant rice in spring, harvest it in autumn, and in winter make mochi using the glutinous rice they have grown themselves. Zushi said happily, “Freshly pounded mochi is very soft and delicious.”

The environment where students can learn about and experience the cycles of nature with all five senses is a major source of pride for the Toyosu Elementary School district.

2. Plenty of places to play! A relaxing park that brings people together

The second speaker, Nakatsuka Taiga, told us that the district’s many parks are something to be proud of.

There are many parks in the district, where everyone from young children to older adults can relax. Nakatsuka enjoys playing on the playground equipment and playing ball with friends after school and on holidays. His top recommendation is Rokken River Park, which is spacious enough to enjoy playing ball to your heart’s content.

He said that one of the district’s strengths is that parks are part of everyday life—not just places to play, but places where people can connect with local residents.

3. Heartwarming exchange with local residents

The final speaker was Nanseki Jinta. Nanseki talked about the warmth of the local residents.

The children interact with local residents every day, and when they are going to or coming home from school, residents smile and greet them with “Good morning” or “Welcome home.” Because the residents watch over them so warmly, the children can attend school with peace of mind. When a younger student cries on the way to or from school, residents quickly ask, “What’s wrong?” and help them.

Residents also volunteer to help with preparations and cleanup at events such as the sports festival. They are a reassuring presence, cheering the children on warmly.

The children expressed their gratitude, saying that the deep affection and care of local residents allow them to enjoy school life with peace of mind.

Surrounded by rich nature and watched over by caring local residents, the children learn and play energetically every day as they work toward creating a “school filled with smiles.” The children, who cherish tradition while growing straight toward their dreams for the future, are a treasure to the community. Let’s continue to watch over them and help smiles spread throughout the school and district.

Thank you to everyone at Toyosu 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.

Twenty students answered our questions this time.
Their dreams included becoming athletes, police officers, registered dietitians, architects, and voice actors. Some, inspired by their homeroom teachers, hoped to become elementary school teachers themselves. 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 Toyosu Elementary School.