"Gather Around! Elementary School Students" Tsurajima Minami Elementary School Edition (Broadcast on March 7, 2026) ~ A School District Surrounded by Lotus Fields: Warm Interactions Between Tsurajima Minami Elementary School and the Local 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 March 7, 2026 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Tsurajima Minami Elementary School" located in Tsurajima-cho, Kurashiki City.

We will share the lively voices of the children.

This article is a contributed piece by FM Kurashiki. 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 directly interview sixth graders at the visited elementary schools to deeply explore the charm of the schools everyone attends. Additionally, the "School District Pride" segment, where children share the good and favorite aspects of their community from their perspective, is also noteworthy.

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 Minami Elementary School located in Tsurajima-cho, Kurashiki City.
In 2025, it will celebrate its 150th anniversary, making it a historic school. Various events are held to interact with local people.

The charm of Tsurajima Minami Elementary School was immediately shared by the children.

About Tsurajima Minami Elementary School

The first to introduce the school is Rion Niwa and Satoru Tanaka. The two gave a synchronized presentation.

In introducing Tsurajima Minami Elementary School, the presence of local people is indispensable.

Fifth graders hold a "Lotus Root Harvest Festival" in cooperation with local people during their comprehensive learning time. They not only grow and harvest lotus roots but also challenge themselves to cooking, create quizzes and stamps, and the children come up with ideas to run the event. Furthermore, they invite neighbors and local kindergartens to enjoy the festival together.

Creating a space for interaction with local people has become a memorable event for the children.

Additionally, they mentioned that various events are held throughout the year, which is also a charm.

The "Bon Odori Festival" held during summer vacation features stalls and dance performances by local people, as well as dances arranged by the children to the school song, making it a fun festival unique to Tsurajima Minami Elementary School.

There are also diverse events such as water gun festivals, mochi pounding, and community cleaning activities, providing plenty of opportunities for children to enjoy together with the community and teachers.

Niwa and Tanaka said, "Tsurajima Minami Elementary School is supported by local people, so we will also do our best to contribute to the community!"

Children of Tsurajima Minami 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 Minami Elementary School and its school district.

1. Delicious local treasure! "Tsurajima Lotus Root"

The first to present was Naoki Nagata.

Nagata proudly mentioned the local specialty, Tsurajima Lotus Root. The school district has vast lotus root fields unique to reclaimed land, and the taste of Tsurajima lotus root is exquisite.

As seen in events like the lotus root harvest festival, Tsurajima lotus root is cherished as an important treasure of the community.

2. A place for children to relax! Numerous well-equipped parks

Next, Kaisei Tamiya introduced the well-equipped parks.

Around the school, there are many parks that are well-maintained for safe play, and the children each have their favorite parks.

Tamiya shared about the park where he always plays, saying, "It's fun to play a lot." It seems that there are relaxation spots for children everywhere.

3. The joy of an increasing number of local people

The third presenter was Ayato Takeda.

Takeda proudly mentioned the increasing number of local residents. In Tsurajima, residential development is progressing, and the number of residents is increasing.

He noted that cheerful and energetic greetings fill the streets, and the overall vitality of the community can be felt. As the population increases, the community is sure to become livelier. I hope it continues to be a town that attracts even more people in the future.

Finally, Hyuga Nakahama concluded with a wonderful presentation.

"There are many good things in the school district of Tsurajima Minami Elementary School. It is our prideful school district"

I think it is wonderful that the children can feel proud of the town they live in. The presence of local specialties and well-equipped parks, as well as warm interactions with local people, may be the greatest charm of Tsurajima Minami Elementary School.

Thank you to everyone at Tsurajima Minami Elementary School.

Voices of Children Heading Towards the Future

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

Fourteen children participated in the interview this time.
They aspire to be nursery school teachers, caregivers, artists, voice actors, programmers, and more... 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 to everyone at Tsurajima Minami Elementary School.