Gather Around! Elementary School: Obie Elementary School Edition (Aired April 11, 2026) ～ The Endangered Water Hyacinth Brightens the School District! How Obie Elementary School, with Over 150 Years of History, Is Bringing Its Community Closer Together

“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” airs on FM Kurashiki every Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

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

The April 11, 2026 (Saturday) broadcast featured “Obie Elementary School” in Kazuyama, Kurashiki City.

Here are the lively voices of the children.

This article was contributed by FM Kurashiki Co., Ltd. The Haretoco General Incorporated Association editorial team edited and published it.

The information presented was current when the article was published in May 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.

FM Kurashiki’s “Gather Around! Elementary School Students”

“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” interviews sixth graders at the schools it visits to take a closer look at what makes their school special. Also worth watching is “What We’re Proud of About Our District,” which introduces the good things about the area and what the children like about it, from an elementary school student’s perspective.

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

This time, the program visited Obie Elementary School in Kazuyama, Kurashiki City.
The school has a history spanning more than 150 years. Alongside its mascot, “Obinyan,” the children are growing up happily and freely.

The children were quick to tell us what makes Obie Elementary School special.

About Obie Elementary School

First to introduce the school was Ami Renbutsu.
She shared three things that make Obie Elementary School special.

The first is that the school celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024.
To mark this major milestone, an aerial photograph was taken, and the mascot character “Obinyan” was created.

Obinyan appears all over the school grounds and has become a symbol of Obie Elementary School, beloved not only by the students but also by local residents.

The second is the warm support provided by volunteers.
They watch over the children to ensure they can get to school safely, keep the school’s flower beds beautiful, and even read aloud to them. “Thanks to the local people, we can enjoy school life with peace of mind every day,” says Renbutsu.

The third is the children who attend Obie Elementary School.
Renbutsu says she is proud of the children, who are energetic, cheerful, and considerate. She also told us about a unique initiative called “Friendship Week,” which strengthens bonds among students, and “Compliment Shower,” where they find good qualities in their friends, write them on cards, and give them to one another.

“It warms your heart to know someone noticed you, and it also helps build your confidence,” says Renbutsu.

Obie Elementary School cherishes its long history, moves forward together with the community, and nurtures kind hearts through the power of words. It is a wonderful place of learning where every student attends with enthusiasm.

“What We’re Proud of About Our School and District,” According to Obie Elementary School Students

Next, we’ll introduce what the children are proud of about their school and district.

Three children presented what they love about Obie Elementary School and its district in a ranking.

3rd: The district’s natural beauty, colored by the endangered water hyacinth

The first to share what she was proud of was Tomoka Ishikawa. She introduced the rich natural environment across the Obie school district.

The water hyacinth, which is said to grow wild only in this school district in Okayama Prefecture, is a precious flower designated as an endangered species. Ishikawa says she hopes to continue protecting the water hyacinth, which colors the district beautifully from August to October.

Another attraction is the peaceful, simple scenery of fields and rice paddies.
Despite being in urban Kurashiki, the area offers a chance to experience nature through the seasons and see local people working hard in the fields—a treasure unique to this district.

2nd: Numerous historic sites remain in this historic district

Shun Murakami introduced the district’s long history and two historic sites that symbolize it.

The first historic site is a water gate called “Kuramizu Gate,” built about 300 years ago during the Edo period.
The area around it was once a very rich waterside environment, where eels, catfish, and clams were plentiful.

The second is “Kawako Rock (Gogo Rock),” associated with the legendary monster known as a kappa.
According to local legend, when the area around the school was once under the sea, a kappa lived there and played tricks on people. Based on this tale, a large rock measuring 8 by 16 meters offshore was likened to a kappa. Since kappa were called “gogo” in southern Okayama Prefecture, the rock came to be known by that name.

Murakami said he was proud that so much fascinating history is recorded in places close to home.

1st: The many connections with local people

Last to speak was Waka Hachiya, who talked about the local people who have continued to preserve the area’s history.

By visiting historic sites and listening to local residents, Hachiya said she was able to feel the weight of the district’s history firsthand. She said the district’s greatest point of pride is the attitude of local people, who connect history to life today and pass it on to future generations.

The children are proud of the historic heritage preserved over many years, and of the warm-hearted people who support it and pass it on to the next generation.

Surrounded by a rich natural environment, Obie Elementary School has fostered strong bonds among its students through its unique initiatives. We hope to support the children as they continue to build on the school’s more than 150-year history.

Thank you to everyone at Obie Elementary School.

Children’s voices as they look to the future

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

Nineteen children took part in the interviews this time.
They shared dreams of becoming dinosaur experts, YouTubers, professional athletes, stationery shop owners, and more. It’s exciting to imagine what the future holds for them.

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

Thank you to everyone at Obie Elementary School.