“Gather Around, Elementary School Students!” Son Elementary School Edition (Aired February 7, 2026) 〜 Rich natural surroundings where kingfishers, storks, and fireflies can be found. The kind hearts of Son Elementary School’s children, nurtured by the whole community.

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

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

The February 7, 2026, broadcast introduced life at “Sono Elementary School” in Mabi, 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 presented was current when the article was published in March 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 the schools they visit, taking a closer look at what makes their schools special. Also featured is “What We Love About Our School District,” where children share what they like about their local area from an elementary school student’s perspective.

The program also features heartwarming interviews that may move even adults, as children talk about their exciting dreams for the future or express gratitude to the family members who are always by their side.

This time, the program visited Sono Elementary School in Mabi, Kurashiki City.
The school has 162 students. Surrounded by lush greenery, it offers a warm and welcoming environment where the children thrive.

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

About Sono Elementary School

First up was Mimura Hyuga, who clearly and confidently shared two things he likes about Sono Elementary School.

The first is that “everyone gets along, regardless of grade.”
During breaks, all the students head outside to play. They play not only with classmates and friends in their own grade, but also with children in other grades. He said that the close friendships that cross grade boundaries are one of the things Sono Elementary School is proud of.

The second is the school’s “school song,” which has an unusual feature.
Remarkably, the melodies of verses one and two are completely different, making it an uncommon arrangement nationwide. First-time listeners are said to be surprised by the difference. The unique school song is a treasured symbol of the school’s individuality.

At Sono Elementary School, surrounded by nature, children build bonds across grades, while a distinctive school song rings out. It sounds like a wonderful school, full of smiles and energy.

Sono 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 school district.”

Three children shared what they like about Sono Elementary School and its district.

1. A school district rich in nature, with brilliant blue kingfishers and magical fireflies

The first thing Shimasaki Noa introduced was the abundant nature surrounding the school.

Shimasaki spoke about the abundant nature around Sono Elementary School. There are many rivers and green spaces near the school, and it is possible to see the kingfisher, Kurashiki City’s bird. The brilliant blue kingfisher is beautiful to see and gives us a sense of the richness of nature.

Around June, fireflies dance along the road to Mabi Utsukushii Mori, creating a truly magical scene at night. They sometimes see storks, too.

She said that being able to live close to plants and wildlife throughout the seasons is one of the great things about Sono Elementary School.

2. The work of Horiguchi Co., Ltd., which makes furniture from Okayama-grown timber

Next, Kobayashi Sakura introduced Horiguchi Co., Ltd., a local company. Affectionately, she called it “Horiguchi Furniture.”

Horiguchi Co., Ltd. uses timber grown in Okayama Prefecture to make a variety of warm, inviting furniture. The company has made many custom pieces, including benches at Okayama Momotaro Airport and furniture for local bakeries.

Second graders visit the company as part of their “neighborhood exploration” activities. Kobayashi said, “I still remember how carefully Mr. Horiguchi, the company’s representative, explained everything to us.”

The work of professionals who use local wood to make furniture we see every day was one of the things the children were proud of in their community.

3. School life supported by warm connections with local people

Finally, Komori Risa spoke about the local people who are always there to support the children with warmth.

In the school district of Sono Elementary School, many local people actively help out by watching over children as they travel to and from school, taking part in school events, volunteering in classes, and holding community events.

Komori said she has interacted with local people while learning how to use a sewing machine and taking part in abacus volunteer activities.

Speaking of the local people who watch over her every day, Komori said, “Someday, I want to give something back.” It was clear that the whole community provides a warm environment in which children can grow.

At Sono Elementary School, the children enjoy a healthy school life surrounded by abundant nature and warm-hearted local people. It’s wonderful that they are developing a desire to give back to their community.

Thank you to everyone at Sono Elementary School.

Children’s voices as they look to the future

After hearing so much about what makes the school special, we also asked about everyone’s dreams for the future.

Seventeen children took part in the interviews this time.
They dream of becoming professional baseball players, chefs, childcare workers, teachers, photographers, and more. It’s exciting to imagine what their futures may hold.

The children’s determination to take on challenges, driven by the things they love, gave us adults great courage and moved us deeply.

Thank you to everyone at Sono 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.

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

FM Kurashiki will continue to watch over the children of the region so they can grow up healthy and enjoy their lives.