"Gather Around! Elementary School Students" Sonoh Elementary School Edition (Broadcast on February 7, 2026) ~ A Rich Nature Where You Can Encounter Kingfishers, Storks, and Fireflies. The Kind Hearts of Sonoh Elementary School Children Nurtured by the Entire Community

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 February 7, 2026 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Sono Elementary School" located in Mabi, Kurashiki City.

We will share the lively voices of the energetic 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 everyone attends. Additionally, the "School District Pride" segment introduces the good and favorite aspects of the community from the perspective of elementary school students.

They share their exciting future dreams and express gratitude to their families who are always with them... Heartwarming interviews that even move adults will be featured.

This time, we visited Sono Elementary School located in Mabi, Kurashiki City.
The total number of students is 162. Surrounded by lush nature, it is a warm environment where children thrive.

The Charm of Sono Elementary School was shared by the children right away.

About Sono Elementary School

The first to present is Hyuga Mimura. He introduced two charms of Sono Elementary School with a clear voice.

The first charm is that "everyone gets along well across grades".
During recess, all the students go outside and play energetically. They play not only with friends from their own class or grade but also with children from different grades. The close relationships that transcend grade boundaries are one of Sono Elementary School's prides.

The second charm is the unique feature of the "school song".
Remarkably, the melody is completely different between the first and second verses, which is a rare structure even nationwide. First-time listeners are said to be surprised by the difference. This unique school song has become an important treasure that symbolizes the school's individuality.

In the rich nature, fostering bonds across grades, and with a unique school song resonating, Sono Elementary School conveys the charm of a wonderful school filled with smiles and vitality.

Children of Sono 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 Sono Elementary School and its school district.

1. The Blue Shining Kingfisher and the Fantastical Fireflies! A School District Proud of Its Nature

Noa Shimazaki was the first to introduce the rich nature surrounding the school.

Shimazaki talked about the rich nature around Sono Elementary School. There are many rivers and greenery around the school, and it is said that you can see the kingfisher, the bird of Kurashiki City. The sight of the blue shining kingfisher is very beautiful and teaches us about the richness of nature.

Additionally, around June, fireflies dance along the path to Mabi Beautiful Forest, creating a very fantastical landscape at night. It is also said that you can sometimes encounter storks.

The environment where you can feel living creatures and plants closely throughout the four seasons is a great pride of Sono Elementary School, she mentioned.

2. The Activities of "Horiguchi Co., Ltd." Making Furniture from Okayama Prefecture Timber

Next, Sakura Kobayashi introduced Horiguchi Co., Ltd., which is located in the area. Kobayashi affectionately referred to it as "Horiguchi Furniture."

Horiguchi Co., Ltd. uses timber from Okayama Prefecture to produce a variety of warm and inviting furniture. They handle many custom-made furniture pieces, such as benches for Okayama Momotaro Airport and furniture for local bakeries.

In the second grade "School District Exploration," the children visited the company, and Kobayashi said, "What the representative, Mr. Horiguchi, explained carefully still remains in my heart."

Using local wood to create familiar furniture is the work of professionals. It was one of the proud local treasures for the children.

3. School Life Supported by Warm Interactions with Local People

Finally, Risa Komori presented about the presence of local people who always support warmly.

In the school district of Sono Elementary School, many local people actively cooperate in activities such as monitoring students during their commutes, participating in school events, volunteering in classes, and hosting community events.

Komori mentioned that she has interacted with local people while learning how to use a sewing machine and participating in an abacus volunteer program.

Komori expressed her desire to "someday give back" to the local people who watch over them daily. It conveyed a warm environment where the entire community nurtures the growth of the children.

At Sono Elementary School, surrounded by rich nature and warm local people, the children were enjoying their school life healthily. It is wonderful that feelings of wanting to give back to the community are being nurtured.

Thank you, everyone at Sono Elementary School.

Voices of Children Looking Toward the Future

After learning about the school's charms, we also asked everyone about their future dreams.

The 17 children who answered the interview included aspiring professional baseball players, chefs, nursery teachers, school teachers, photographers, and more... Imagining everyone's future selves is exciting.

The sight of children challenging themselves with "what they love" gives us adults great courage and inspiration.

Thank you, everyone at Sono Elementary School.