"Gather Around! Elementary School Students" Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School Edition (Broadcast on March 21, 2026) ~ Five Shrines and Our Proud Confectionery Shop. Children of Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School Chasing Dreams at Daisuke Takahashi's Alma Mater

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 21, 2026 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School" located in Tsurajima-cho, Kurashiki City.

We will deliver 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, we highlight the "School District Pride," where children share the good and favorite aspects of their community from their perspective.

We will also present heartwarming interviews that make even adults' hearts swell, as children talk about their exciting future dreams and express gratitude to their families who are always by their side.

This time, we visited Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School located in Tsurajima-cho, Kurashiki City. With a total of 231 students and a history of 153 years, it is a traditional school with a very long history.

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

About Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School

The first to introduce the school is Haruna Baba. She presented her thoughts clearly and loudly.

The first point she mentioned was the friendship among the children.
There is a characteristic interaction across grades through "vertical group activities," and all grades are very close. Currently, the entire school is working to enhance greetings, standing at the school gate every morning to engage in a greeting campaign, creating a lively atmosphere every day.

Additionally, the traditional event "Gaku-dashi" that has been continued since long ago is an essential charm.
This event involves attaching pictures or characters drawn in calligraphy to a frame and lighting a candle inside, creating a very fantastical scene as the frame glows at night. Baba-san said, "It's so beautiful that I can watch it forever!"

Baba-san explained that the reason children can enjoy their school life is that many local people are involved in various ways, such as safety patrols, reading aloud, and disaster volunteer activities.

Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School, which values its history, tradition, and connections with local people, is enveloped in warm bonds.

Children of Tsurajima Nishiura 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 Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School and its district.

1. "Five Shrines" Watching Over the Children

The first to share their pride was Yuka Yamamoto, who mentioned that there are five shrines within the school district.

Yamamoto-san feels that the reason they can live their school life energetically and safely every day is that the gods are always watching over them.

The presence of the five shrines is one of the prides of the school district that gives the children a sense of security. We encourage everyone to visit and pay respects at the five shrines.

2. The Presence of Daisuke Takahashi, an Alumni Active Worldwide

Next, Tsumugi Ono proudly shared that there is a globally famous alumni.

That person is Daisuke Takahashi, who has competed in the Olympics in figure skating. During the 150th anniversary ceremony, Ono-san happily mentioned that a surprise congratulatory message was received from Takahashi-san.

Ono-san's words, "I want to cherish each day and achieve my dreams and goals so that I won't lose to Takahashi-san," conveyed that Daisuke Takahashi's achievements provide great motivation to the children of Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School.

3. The Beloved Local Confectionery Shop "Kyukindo"

Finally, Yuki Takahashi introduced the beloved local Japanese and Western confectionery shop "Kyukindo".
He explained that it is a shop filled with deliciousness, offering traditional Japanese sweets such as Kyukinnmanju and Kyukinsenbei, as well as Western sweets like shortcakes, sablés, and cookies.

The name "Kyukindo" is derived from the poet Kyukin Susukida, who is from Tsurajima. Takahashi-san confidently stated that it is a shop with delicious sweets that makes you want to visit. This was a pride of the school district.

At Tsurajima Nishiura Elementary School, which boasts a history and tradition of 153 years, there is an environment supported by the warm support of the community, allowing children to grow freely. I look forward to seeing what dreams the children will achieve in the future.

Thank you, everyone at Tsurajima Nishiura 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 nine children who answered the interview shared their aspirations.
Some friends talked about wanting to become lawyers, doctors, or pastry chefs, while others simply answered "a kind person." 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 Nishiura Elementary School.