"Gather Around! Elementary School Students" Nagao Elementary School Edition (Broadcast on February 14, 2026) ~ The Charm of Nagao Elementary School Spending Time Warmly Watched Over by Local People in a Town Where You Can See the Shinkansen

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 14, 2026 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Nagao Elementary School" located in Tamashima, 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 everyone attends. Additionally, we highlight the "School District Pride," where children share the good and favorite aspects of their 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 Nagao Elementary School located in Tamashima, Kurashiki City.
The total number of students is 821. Surrounded by lush nature, it is a warm environment where children thrive.

The charm of Nagao Elementary School was shared by the children right away.

About Nagao Elementary School

The first to present is Sakura Ishikawa. With a clear voice, she introduced three charms of Nagao Elementary School.

The first charm is the energetic greetings that are appropriate for the time and place (TPO).
The children of Nagao Elementary School not only greet but also call out the names of others and practice "go-sen-go-rei" (a bow after speaking). Because such heartfelt greetings have become a habit, the entire school is enveloped in a bright atmosphere filled with many smiles.

The second charm is the large number of students engaged in volunteer activities.
Every morning, after finishing their own preparations, many students voluntarily start volunteer activities for the school. They clean carefully while looking for dirt, so the hallways and classrooms are always kept sparkling clean.

The third charm is the delicious school lunch that everyone looks forward to.
Since it is homemade in the school lunchroom, a good smell wafts through the school during the 3rd and 4th periods. With fresh vegetables and warm soups, the meals are hearty, and they can enjoy freshly made warm rice. Ishikawa's favorite menu is curry. Being able to eat delicious school lunches every day is a big charm of Nagao Elementary School.

Ishikawa said, "The current charm exists thanks to the support of many people. While being grateful to those around us, I want to continue discovering the charms of Nagao Elementary School." I believe that the attitude of not forgetting gratitude will surely make Nagao Elementary School even more attractive in the future.

Children of Nagao Elementary School Talk About "School & School District Pride"

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

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

1. Warm exchanges in the community working together for child-rearing

Akari Yamamoto first introduced the pride of the community, which is the many events that allow deep connections with local people.

Activities such as the community sports day and making New Year's decorations allow a wide range of generations, from children to the elderly, to interact and spend enjoyable times together. Additionally, the children's association organizes events like camping and day trips, creating fun memories. Ball games such as foot baseball and softball are also conducted.

Not only these numerous events, but also the fact that local people stand on the streets to watch over safety during school commutes is a charm.

Yamamoto states that the "warmth of the community working together for child-rearing" is a significant pride of the school district. It is thanks to the support of the local people that students can enjoy a safe and fun school life.

2. Deep connections with local people

Next, Keigo Takahashi introduced the many opportunities for interaction with local people.

Events like the Nagao Festival and Hanavola (flower-filled town promotion activities) provide numerous opportunities for direct interaction with local residents. Additionally, during daily commutes, local people watch over the children, and a culture of naturally exchanging greetings has taken root.

The regular interactions with the community are a unique charm of the Nagao school district, he mentioned.

3. The frequently used Shin-Kurashiki Station and the charming local shops

Finally, the presenters were Nonoka Ikemoto and Kanako Ono. They taught us about Shin-Kurashiki Station and the uniquely local shops.

Shin-Kurashiki Station is a station where the Shinkansen also stops, and many people use it daily. Nagao Elementary School is close enough to see the Shinkansen, making it a familiar presence for the children. At Shin-Kurashiki Station, there is a street piano, and all fifth graders have sung along to the piano performance. The station staff are also kind, making it a symbol of the community that is easy for everyone to use.

Additionally, within the school district, there are large shopping malls, as well as local shops like "Meat Shop Chiya," Western-style restaurant "Ibu," and flower shop "Fujiwara Hanaten," which are rooted in the community. The presence of shops loved by local people keeps the town lively.

The children of Nagao Elementary School lived with gratitude, supported by the local people. The interaction between the children and the local residents is, I believe, an element that further enhances the charm of the school district.

Thank you, everyone at Nagao Elementary School.

Voices of Children Looking Toward the Future

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

Thirteen children participated in the interview this time.
Imagining their future selves as professional athletes, singer-songwriters, florists, and Shinkansen drivers... it is exciting to think about everyone's future.

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 Nagao Elementary School.

Conclusion

In "Gather! Elementary School Students," we will continue to deliver the charms of schools and communities through the voices of children.

Every time we visit an elementary school, we feel that the children are growing every day with the warm support of the teachers and the local community.

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