“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” Sabi Elementary School Edition (Aired April 18, 2026)～Sabi Elementary School, surrounded by the sea and mountains, with Japan’s oldest beach right before its eyes, where students spend their days closely exchanging with local people

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

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

The April 18, 2026 (Saturday) broadcast featured “Sami Elementary School” in Tamashima, 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 this article was published in June 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.

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

On “Gather Around! Elementary School Students,” the hosts interview sixth graders at each school they visit, taking a closer look at what makes their school special. Also worth watching is “What Makes Our School District Special,” where children share what they like about their community from their own perspective.

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

This time, the program visited Sami Elementary School in Kurosaki, Tamashima, Kurashiki City.
With just 22 students, the school is small, and one of its charms is how well children across different grades get along. Sami Beach, right next to the school, is also a place they often visit for lessons.

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

About Sami Elementary School

First to introduce the school was Kobayashi Kakuma.
He gave a clear and careful presentation.

One of the school’s defining charms is that all the students get along very well, regardless of grade.
They have many opportunities to interact across grade levels during breaks and cleaning time, so they know one another well. During the weekly “All-School Physical Education” class, students from first through sixth grade are placed on the same teams. The older students look out for the younger ones, and everyone enjoys the activities together.

Sami Elementary School also has its own kitchen, so students can enjoy delicious meals freshly prepared every day. The meals are made fun to look at, too, with vegetables cut into stars and hearts, as well as cupcakes and sata andagi made by the school’s cooks.

The warm, lovingly prepared school lunches had become something the children looked forward to every day.

Another feature is the many opportunities to interact with local people.
At the annual “Challenge Classroom,” community members serve as teachers and introduce the children to activities they rarely get to try, such as balloon art and ground golf. The children also enjoy monthly read-aloud sessions and are supported by many local people, including the patrol team that watches over them on their way to and from school.

The children are also delighted by the many events that make use of the sea right in front of the school. These include the “Beach Gathering” in April, swimming in the sea in summer, and fishing boat experiences for fifth- and sixth-graders. Once a month, everyone also takes part in a “beach cleanup,” picking up litter along the shore.

Kobayashi told us, “I want to keep working hard at the beach cleanups so we can keep our Sami Elementary School clean.”

Sami Elementary School students share what makes their school and district special

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

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

3rd: The many kind people in the community

The first to share what she was proud of was Sanada Saki.

Sanada Saki’s third-place choice was the many kind people in the community.
As the children walk to and from school, local people warmly call out, “Have a good day!” and “Welcome home!” They also actively take part in school events, giving the children many opportunities to interact with them.

This environment, where the whole community comes together to watch over the children, is something the district can truly be proud of.

2nd: Events where they can interact with local people

Hirata Fuka’s second-place choice was the many events that give children opportunities to interact with local people.

The year begins with the spring “Beach Cleanup,” followed in summer by the seaside “Marine Sports Festival,” the lively “Autumn Festival” in fall, and the “Ground Golf Tournament” in winter.

Many events are held throughout the year. Hirata says, “I enjoy talking with people of different ages at the events.”

The bonds nurtured through community events are surely precious memories for the children.

1st: Rich natural surroundings between the sea and mountains

The last to share her choice was Harada Honoka. Her clear first-place pick was the rich natural surroundings between the sea and mountains.

Sami Beach, stretching out right in front of the school, has been selected as one of “Japan’s 100 Best Beaches” and is a historic place said to be Japan’s first swimming beach. The sea is so familiar to the children of Sami Elementary School that it even appears in their school song.

One of the school’s proudest features is that children can enjoy nature with all their senses, swimming in the sea in summer and taking in wonderful views from the mountains.

Being able to head out and play by both the sea and the mountains may be a treasure unique to the Sami school district, one that is hard to find elsewhere.

Although it is a small school, all the students get along, and it has a wonderfully warm atmosphere. Surrounded by the sea and mountains, the children are growing up happily while building close ties with local people. We hope to continue watching them grow.

Thank you to everyone at Sami Elementary School.

Children’s voices as they look to the future

After hearing so much about what makes the school special, we also asked the children about their dreams for the future.

Four children took part in the interviews this time.
They mentioned becoming a chef, a salesperson, a comedy novelist, and, in one case, “someone who keeps taking on new challenges.” It’s exciting to imagine what the future holds for them.

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

Thank you to everyone at Sami Elementary School.