“Gather Around, Elementary School Students!” Nakajima Elementary School Edition (Aired December 20, 2025)～Spotlight on Nakajima Elementary School, with over 1,000 students, and its lively, well-balanced school life

On FM Kurashiki, “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” airs every Saturday from 8 to 9 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 interview children who talk about their big dreams. Hearing directly from the children gives us a renewed appreciation of the region’s appeal.

The December 20, 2025 (Saturday) broadcast introduced life at “Nakajima Elementary School” in Nakajima, Kurashiki City.

We bring you the lively voices of the 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 February 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, taking an in-depth look at what makes their school special. Also featured is “District Pride,” which introduces the good things about the area and what children like about it, from an elementary school student’s 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 Nakajima Elementary School in Nakajima, Kurashiki City. It is a large school with more than 1,000 students, but one of its charms is how close-knit the children are across grade levels.

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

About Nakajima Elementary School

Nishiyama Sena introduces the school. Although nervous, she spoke clearly and confidently without looking at a script or anything else.

At Nakajima Elementary School, the whole school works hard toward three goals: “greetings, cleaning, and walking in the hallways.” They make a concerted effort, encouraging everyone to greet one another through committee activities and focusing on their work during cleaning time.

The school is currently putting particular effort into walking in the hallways. Nishiyama says, “The older students are working hard to set an example for the younger ones.”

Another major attraction is the warm exchange between students across grade levels. Thanks to activities where the whole school plays together, called “Friendly Play,” and “commuting groups” made up of students from different grades, students get along regardless of their grade.

It was clear that despite its large size, Nakajima Elementary School fosters rich relationships among its students.

Nakajima 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.

We asked three children to tell us what they like about Nakajima Elementary School and its district.

1. Nakajima Elementary School is more than just “full of energy!”

First to speak was Kobashi Taiga.

Kobashi named the whole school’s “high energy” and “disciplined behavior” as things to be proud of. Every grade at Nakajima Elementary School is full of energy, but the students are not simply lively. They think carefully for themselves about “what is good and what is bad,” and act while following the rules, he says.

From first through sixth grade, they enjoy school life while knowing when to be lively and when to be focused.

2. Meeting all kinds of friends among 1,000 students

The second to speak was Hisashige Mana. She told us about what makes Nakajima Elementary School special as a large school with more than 1,000 students.

A large student body means many opportunities to meet people. With four to six classes per grade, students can meet friends who share their interests, as well as friends with different talents from their own.

Hisashige says she, too, enjoys spending time surrounded by all kinds of friends. I felt that meeting so many people will add even more color to the children’s futures.

3. A livable town with convenient shops

The last to appear, Hayakawa Sota, named the convenience of the school district as something to be proud of.

The Nakajima Elementary School district has 24-hour convenience stores, a variety of supermarkets, pharmacies, and more, making it a convenient area where you can quickly go shopping whenever you need something.

There are also plenty of delicious restaurants, including chain restaurants such as Starbucks and places serving Kurashiki’s famous “Bukkake udon.” Hayakawa told us, “You can do almost anything you want, anytime and anywhere.”

With everything needed for daily life close at hand and plenty of fun shops, the school district is a very livable and proud place for its students.

At Nakajima Elementary School, more than 1,000 students were enjoying lively days while cherishing the school’s “three pillars.” We wholeheartedly support the children as they continue to shine in their own way, alongside the many people they will meet.

Thank you to everyone at Nakajima 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.
It’s exciting to imagine their futures as athletes, ramen shop owners, pharmacists, veterinarians, airplane designers, and more.

The children’s determination to pursue their interests gave us adults great courage and moved us deeply.

Thank you to everyone at Nakajima 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.

Each time we visit an elementary school, we see how children grow every day with the warm support of their teachers and local community.

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