"Gather Around! Elementary School Students" Tsurajima Kame Elementary School Edition (Aired on January 17, 2026) ~ Daily Life at Tsurajima Kame Elementary School Surrounded by the School's Symbol "Turtle"

On FM Kurashiki, every Saturday from 8 AM to 9 AM, we broadcast "Gather! Elementary School Students".

The personality, Asuka Abe, visits elementary schools in Kurashiki City to interview children who talk about the charm of their schools and school districts, as well as their big dreams. Through the genuine voices of the children, we can once again feel the charm of the community.

In the broadcast on January 17, 2026 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School" located in Tsurajima, Kurashiki City.

We will share the lively voices of the children.

This article is a contributed piece by FM Kurashiki Co., Ltd. It has been edited and published by the Haretoco General Incorporated Association editorial team.

FM Kurashiki "Gather! Elementary School Students"

In "Gather! Elementary School Students," we conduct direct interviews with sixth graders at the visited elementary schools, deeply exploring the charm of the schools they attend. Additionally, we highlight the "School District Pride," where children share the good things and their favorite aspects of the community from their perspective.

They talk about their exciting future dreams and express gratitude to their families who are always with them... We will also present heartwarming interviews that will surely touch the hearts of adults.

This time, we visited Tsurajima Shinki (Tsurajima Shinki) Elementary School in Tsurajima, Kurashiki City. In 2026, the number of students is 264. The school consists of 1 or 2 classes per grade and is enveloped in a warm atmosphere.

The Charm of Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School was immediately shared by the children.

Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School

The first to appear were Takahashi Kanna and Shiotsu Yuri. They introduced the charm of Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School in detail.

The big symbol of Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School is the "turtle," which is also included in its name.
Not only are there turtles everywhere in the school, but during the physical education observation day, they also have a unique event called "Great Turtle Send-off" that gets everyone excited. Furthermore, Kamejima Mountain can be seen from the classrooms, and they are indeed living their school life under the watchful eyes of turtles.

They also told us about the important "four pillars" that the school upholds.
"Greeting" by looking at the other person's eyes, "Organizing shoes" aiming for tidiness, "Walking quietly" in the hallways, and "Silent cleaning" while concentrating. These four practices have been maintained for many years and have become a proud tradition of the school.

"I want to work hard as a leader of the school so that the tradition of the four pillars continues," they expressed, conveying their deep affection for the school.

Children of Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School Talk About "School & School District Pride"

Next, we will introduce the "pride of the school and school district" that the children are proud of.

Three children presented the charms of Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School and its school district.

1. The Symbol of the Town: "Kamejima Mountain"

Hyuga Tanaka shared his pride in "Kamejima Mountain," the symbol of the school district.

Kamejima Mountain, which can be seen from the classrooms, has a turtle-like shape and is a familiar presence for the children. Tanaka said, "It's the number one pride of the school district." Spending days under the watchful eyes of Kamejima Mountain is truly unique to Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School.

Kamejima Mountain is not only a symbol of the school but also a symbol of the community.

2. A Convenient Town with Many Shops

Next to present was Shuuma Hashimoto. He proudly talked about the abundance of local shops.

Around Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School, there are supermarkets, restaurants, shoe stores, and many essential shops for daily life. Hashimoto's favorite shop is McDonald's.

The convenience of not having to worry about shopping is a significant pride of the school district, he shared.

3. The Hidden Character of the School? Classroom Signs in the Shape of Turtles

Finally, Reo Sasaki presented about the classroom signs in the shape of turtles.

The nameplates (plates) for each classroom at the entrance are all in the shape of cute turtles. These were created as graduation projects and have been passed down through generations. Sasaki said, "We also want to cherish these signs."

This incorporation of turtles into every detail of the school creates a unique scenery that cannot be found in other schools.

All the children's presentations were lively, and I felt a glimpse of the vibrant school life. I hope they continue to grow up cherishing their traditions under the watchful eyes of the community symbol, the turtle.

Thank you, everyone at Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School.

Voices of Children Looking Toward the Future

After learning about the charm of the school, we also asked everyone about their future dreams.

The 14 children who answered the interview included aspiring boat racers, animators, nurses, hairdressers... and even one child who expressed a grand dream of "wanting to fly in the sky by my own power." Imagining everyone's future selves is exciting.

The sight of children challenging themselves with "what they love" as their driving force gave us adults great courage and inspiration.

Thank you, everyone at Tsurajima Shinki Elementary School.