"Gather Around! Elementary School" Obie Elementary School Edition (Aired on April 11, 2026) ~ Efforts to Deepen Bonds at Obie Elementary School with a History of Over 150 Years, Adorned by the Endangered Species Water Hyacinth

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 April 11, 2026 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Obie Elementary School" located in Kazuyama, Kurashiki City.

We will deliver 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 6th 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 Obie Elementary School located in Kazuyama, Kurashiki City.
It is an elementary school with a history of over 150 years. Together with the mascot "Obinyan," the children are growing up freely.

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

About Obie Elementary School

The first to introduce the school is Ami Renbutsu.
She introduced the charm of Obie Elementary School with three points.

The first charm is that it will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2024.
To commemorate this significant milestone, aerial photography was conducted, and the mascot character "Obinyan" was born.

Obinyan appears throughout the school and has become a symbol of Obie Elementary School, beloved not only by the students but also by the local community.

The second charm is the warm support from volunteers.
They watch over the children to ensure they can safely commute to school, beautify the flower beds on campus, and even conduct reading sessions. Renbutsu-san mentioned, "Thanks to the local people, we can attend school every day with peace of mind."

The third charm is the children who attend Obie Elementary School.
Renbutsu-san proudly stated that the children are full of energy, brightness, and compassion. There is also a unique initiative called "Friendship Week" that strengthens the bonds among children, where they find good qualities in their friends and write them on cards to give to each other, known as the "Shower of Compliments."

Renbutsu-san expressed, "It warms my heart to know that someone is watching me, and it builds my confidence."

While cherishing its long history, Obie Elementary School walks together with the community, nurturing kind hearts through the power of words. It is a vibrant and charming place of learning where each child attends with enthusiasm.

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

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

Three children presented the charms of Obie Elementary School and the school district in a ranking format.

3rd Place: The Nature of the School District Adorned by the Endangered Mizuaoi

The first to present their pride was Tomoka Ishikawa, who introduced the rich nature spreading across the Obie school district.

The Mizuaoi, which is said to only grow naturally in this school district within Okayama Prefecture, is a precious flower designated as an endangered species. Ishikawa-san expressed her desire to continue to protect the beautiful Mizuaoi that adorns the school district from August to October.

Additionally, the picturesque and simple scenery of the rice fields is also one of the charms.
Even though it is located in the urban area of Kurashiki, the environment allows one to feel the changing seasons and see the local people engaged in agricultural work, which is a treasure unique to the school district.

2nd Place: Numerous Historical Sites Remaining in the Historic School District

Shun Murakami introduced the long history within the school district and two historical sites that symbolize that history.

The first historical site is the "Kurasu Water Gate" built about 300 years ago during the Edo period.
It is said that this area was once a very rich waterfront where eels, catfish, and clams were abundant.

The second is the "Kawako Rock (Gogo Rock)" associated with the legendary yokai "Kappa."
It is said that when the area was once the sea, the Kappa lived in that sea and caused trouble for people. From that legend, a large rock measuring 8m x 16m offshore was likened to a Kappa, and since Kappa is called "Gogo" in the southern part of the prefecture, that name was given.

Murakami-san mentioned that having such interesting history etched in nearby places is a significant pride.

1st Place: Many Interactions with Local People

The last to present was Waka Hachiya, who spoke about the presence of local people who have continued to preserve history.

Hachiya-san shared that by actually visiting historical sites and listening to the stories of local people, she could directly feel the weight of the history of the school district. She mentioned that the attitude of the local people, who connect history to current life and strive to pass it on to the future, is the pride of the school district.

The historical heritage that has been preserved over many years and the warm presence of people who support it and pass it on to the next generation is something that the children can also be proud of.

Obie Elementary School, surrounded by a rich natural environment, has been nurturing strong bonds among children through its unique initiatives. We hope to support the children's growth so that they can continue to build on their history of over 150 years.

Thank you, everyone at Obie Elementary School.

Voices of Children Looking Toward the Future

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

The 19 children who answered the interview shared their dreams, such as becoming a dinosaur expert, a YouTuber, a professional athlete, or a stationery store owner. Imagining everyone's future selves is exciting.

The sight of children challenging themselves with "what they love" as their driving force gives us adults great courage and inspiration.

Thank you, everyone at Obie Elementary School.