“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” Gounai Elementary School Edition (aired January 10, 2026) 〜 Days at Gounai Elementary School, where students are surrounded by nature through the seasons in a community full of familiar faces

“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 report on 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.

The January 10, 2026 (Saturday) broadcast introduced life at Gonai Elementary School in Hayashi, Kurashiki City.

Here are 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 in this article was accurate when it was published in February 2026. 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 each school they visit, taking a closer look at what makes their school special. Also worth watching is “Pride in Our District,” 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 even move adults, 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, the program visited Gonai Elementary School in Hayashi, Kurashiki City. Gonai Elementary School has a history of more than 150 years, and warm exchanges with local residents continue to this day.

The children were eager to tell us what makes Gonai Elementary School special.

About Gonai Elementary School

First to introduce the school was Matsubashi Ikki. With his friends watching, he gave a clear and confident presentation.

The first thing Matsubashi mentioned as a highlight of Gonai Elementary School was its setting amid the rich natural surroundings that have long been cherished. About 450 students enjoy school life in an environment where they can encounter many kinds of living creatures.

Another highlight is the excellent facilities. The school has a spacious playground where everyone can have fun, as well as a library stocked with around 9,000 books, providing an environment where students can enjoy both play and learning.

He also told us that students have many opportunities to interact with local residents at Gonai Elementary School.
He said the school puts a lot of effort into volunteer activities, taking part in countless initiatives such as picking up litter in the community and distributing food to older residents.

Through volunteer activities, students get to know more people in the community, helping build a warm and close-knit community.

It was an introduction that conveyed the appeal of Gonai Elementary School and its emphasis on the bonds between people and nature.

“What We’re Proud of About Our School and District,” According to Gonai Elementary School Students

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

Three children presented the highlights of Gonai Elementary School and its district in ranking format.

1. A variety of events filled with smiles and bringing the community together

Miyahara Tomoe’s third-place pick was “a variety of events and exchanges with local residents.”

At Gonai Elementary School, events such as “Manabosai” and the “Gonai Festival” give students the chance to enjoy new sports with local residents and learn about Gonai’s history.

The most exciting event is the summer festival held at Gonai Junior High School.
She told us it is an important community event, with Gonai Elementary School students, teachers, and parents all taking part and helping bring the festival to life. Miyahara looks forward to lining up every year to buy her favorite cotton candy.

One of Gonai’s greatest attractions is the opportunity to connect with many people of all ages, not just friends.

2. The warmth of local people who offer emotional support

Katayama Kurumi’s second-place pick was “kind local people.”

In Gonai, local residents warmly watch over children to keep them safe as they walk to and from school. They greet them with a smile, saying “Good morning” or “Welcome home” when they pass, which gives the children a real boost every day.

Thanks to these everyday interactions, the children can feel safe and enjoy school life. Local residents, too, must be warmly watching the children grow throughout their six years, from first to sixth grade.

3. Rich natural surroundings to enjoy in every season

The top spot went to “the rich natural surroundings around the school,” as introduced by Izumi Kotona.

There are mountains around Gonai Elementary School, making it easy to experience the changing seasons up close every day.

In spring, the school and mountains are covered in cherry blossoms, creating a perfect scene for the entrance ceremony welcoming new students. In summer, younger students enjoy catching insects in the lush green mountains. In autumn, first graders can be seen admiring the fall foliage as they head to a nearby shrine to look for acorns and ginkgo nuts.

Izumi says that being surrounded by nature allows students to spend each day in good health and with a peaceful mind. Gonai’s natural surroundings nurture the children’s senses and enrich their everyday lives.

The children who attend Gonai Elementary School are growing up straight and strong in an environment blessed with both people and nature. We hope they will continue to enjoy a school life full of smiles while cherishing their strong ties with the community.

Thank you to everyone at Gonai 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.

Sixteen children took part in the interviews this time.
It’s exciting to imagine their futures—as farmers, nail technicians, makeup artists, elementary school teachers, chefs who make people smile with their food, and more.

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

Thank you to everyone at Gonai Elementary School.