"Gather Around! Elementary School Students" Tamashima Elementary School Edition (Broadcast on May 9, 2026) ~ Children of Tamashima Elementary School Enjoying Life in Tamashima, a Town with Charming Showa Retro Streets, Featuring Entsu-ji Temple and Haguro Shrine

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 May 9, 2026 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Tamashima Elementary School" located in Tamashima, Kurashiki City.

We will share 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 sixth graders at the visited elementary schools, delving deeply into the charm of the schools they attend. Additionally, we highlight the "School District Pride," where children share the good things and their favorite aspects of the 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 share heartwarming interviews that will surely touch the hearts of adults.

This time, we visited Tamashima Elementary School located in Tamashima, Kurashiki City.

The Charm of Tamashima Elementary School was quickly shared by the children.

About Tamashima Elementary School

The first to introduce the school is Kotoba Tejima. She highlighted three points about the charm of Tamashima Elementary School.

The first charm is "Greetings that Can Make Everyone Smile".
At Tamashima Elementary School, they value greeting not only within the school but also towards the local community. Through greetings, they make not only themselves but also the people around them smile.

The second charm is "Careful Cleaning".
Every day, they quietly and diligently engage in cleaning, making the school cleaner. They take care to wipe every corner of the stairs with cloths and clean even the unseen areas of the classrooms, which is a point of pride for Tamashima Elementary School.

The third charm is "All Students Get Along Well".
There are club activities and friendly neighborhood associations that allow students from first to sixth grade to deepen their friendships across grades. Thanks to these efforts, all students get along very well.

Greetings, cleaning, and camaraderie. The charms that Tejima shared are wonderful treasures that Tamashima Elementary School takes pride in.

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

Next, we will introduce the "School and School District Pride" that the children are proud of.

Three children presented the charms of Tamashima Elementary School and the school district.

1. A Panoramic View of Tamashima! A Healing Place to Enjoy History and Scenic Beauty at "Entsu-ji Temple"

Rino Yasuhara first shared her pride in Entsu-ji Temple, where you can enjoy beautiful scenery.

The view of the Takahashi River from Entsu-ji Temple sparkles, and its beauty is a point of pride for the school district. The temple grounds have an observation deck where you can ring the "Bell of Hope" while enjoying a panoramic view of the town of Tamashima. Yasuhara also mentioned that she loves the scenery along the path to the temple.

Many children also visit Entsu-ji Temple. It has become a place of relaxation where they can experience rich nature and open scenery.

Entsu-ji Temple - An ancient temple in Tamashima where the famous monk Ryokan trained. Azaleas, maples, and cherry blossoms are also highlights.

Ryokan, known as a famous monk, was respected by many people during the Edo period. Did you know that Ryokan has ties to Kurashiki City? In fact, Ryokan spent time at a temple in Kurashiki City...

2. "Haguro Shrine," Cherished by the Local People for Prosperity in Business

Next, Junna Okamoto shared her pride in Haguro Shrine, which warmly watches over the town of Tamashima from a small hill.

Haguro Shrine, which can be visited freely, has long been cherished as a shrine that brings prosperity in business. The good atmosphere of the shrine is certainly a reason for its popularity, along with the cute mascot character "Haguron." Additionally, there are initiatives to receive limited edition goshuin (temple seals) that change monthly.

Haguro Shrine, rooted in the community, has become one of the great prides for the children of Tamashima Elementary School.

Haguro Shrine - A guardian deity of the region that developed alongside Tamashima. Don't miss the crow tengu and artistic goshuin.

During the Edo period, Tamashima prospered as one of the leading commercial areas in the Seto Inland Sea. There are places that still retain the remnants of Tamashima's history. That is the Haguro Shrine located in the center of Tamashima...

3. "Tamashima Shopping Street," Attractive for Its Showa Retro Townscape

Shiori Tabuchi shared her pride in the Tamashima Shopping Street, which retains a Showa retro townscape.

On the first Sunday of every month, a lively "Bichu Tamashima Minato Morning Market" is held, and in the summer, a "Saturday Night Market" takes place, making it a vibrant area filled with events. Some students pass through it daily as their commuting route, and it is an area packed with the charm of Tamashima, where nostalgic scenery coexists with new vitality.

Recently, new shops have been increasing, and their nostalgic atmosphere captivates people from outside the region as well. After hearing Tabuchi's presentation, I felt like visiting Tamashima Shopping Street.

Tamashima Townscape Preservation Area - A port town that flourished as one of the leading commercial cities in the Seto Inland Sea through trade with the Kitamae ships. The culture of tea ceremony also takes root in this merchant town.

Tamashima is the central urban area of the former Tamashima City. In 1967, the former cities of Kurashiki, Kojima, and Tamashima merged to create the current Kurashiki City. Since then, it has been the Tamashima district of Kurashiki City...

Voices of Children Looking Toward the Future

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

The 18 children who answered the interview included those who aspire to be animal caretakers, car mechanics, beauticians, school teachers, and professional soccer players. 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 Tamashima Elementary School.

Conclusion

In "Gather! Elementary School Students," we will continue to deliver the charm of schools and communities through the voices of children.

Every time we visit an elementary school, we feel that the children are growing day by day with the warm support of the teachers and the local community.

FM Kurashiki will continue to watch over the local children so that they can grow up healthily and happily.