“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” — Ajino Elementary School Edition (Aired May 30, 2026) ~ The “Heart-Pounding Plaza” and “Learning Festival”: What Makes Ajino Elementary School Special, Where Jeans Are Part of Everyday Life

“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 cover what makes each school and school district special, as well as children who talk about their big dreams. Hearing directly from the children offers a fresh appreciation of the region’s appeal.

The May 30, 2026 (Saturday) broadcast featured “Ajino Elementary School” in Kojima, Kurashiki City.

Here are the lively voices of the children.

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

The information presented was current when the article was published in July 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, taking a closer look at what makes their school special. Also featured is “What We’re Proud of About Our District,” where children share what they like about their community from their own perspective.

The program also features heartwarming interviews that may move even adults, 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 Ajino Elementary School in Kojima, Kurashiki City.

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

About Ajino Elementary School

Ajino Elementary School is a lively school attended by 219 students. Sasaki Hinata told us about two initiatives unique to the school.

The first was “Dokidoki Plaza,” held on Saturdays.
This event is run mainly by local residents and offers a wide range of activities for children and adults to enjoy, including tennis, soccer classes, and kendama skill tests. It is a welcoming event where people from the community can deepen their connections, regardless of age or grade.

The second is the annual disaster-preparedness event, “Manabo Festival.”
Combining learning and disaster preparedness, the festival gives participants the chance to learn seriously alongside local residents about the dangers of disasters and how to protect themselves. Not only students from Ajino Elementary School but also students from the local Ajino Junior High School and Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School take part, bringing together people of many generations.

Ajino Elementary School is surrounded by Kojima landmarks such as Kojima Jeans Street and Mt. Ryu-o, and provides an environment where children can grow up under the watchful care of local residents. This introduction conveyed the school’s warm and welcoming character.

“What We’re Proud of About Our School and District,” According to Ajino 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 Ajino Elementary School and its district in ranking form.

3. Delicious, freshly prepared school lunches

Asaga Sena named “delicious school lunches” as her third-place pick.

Lunches at Ajino Elementary School are prepared on site, so students can enjoy freshly made, hot meals every day. During School Lunch Week, various food-related events are planned, and the school also takes steps to help children develop an interest in food while having fun.

Asaga told us that her top pick is kimchi fried rice. It sounds delicious! These tasty lunches, which help children grow, are one of the things Ajino Elementary School is most proud of.

2. Greetings practiced together with the principal

Goto Kanato named “cheerful greetings” as his second-place pick.

At Ajino Elementary School, a special greeting practice called “gosen-gorei” has been passed down. Every morning, the principal stands at the school gate and exchanges greetings with each child, gradually spreading a circle of cheerful voices throughout the school.

Exchanging cheerful greetings first thing in the morning is a great way to start the day.

1. “Jeans Day,” wearing a local specialty

Taking the top spot is “Jeans Day,” introduced by Okano Taro.

This event is unique to Ajino Elementary School, the school closest to Kojima Jeans Street. Students come to school wearing jeans, a local industry in Kojima. The school’s student committee plans various activities for the day, and the whole school gets excited.

The school also has an adorable original character called “Gajigaji-kun,” who is popular with the children.

This initiative, which celebrates local specialties and makes the region’s appeal part of school life, is the thing Ajino Elementary School is most proud of.

Ajino Elementary School is full of unique attractions, including warm, freshly prepared school lunches, its distinctive “gosen-gorei” greetings, and Kojima’s own “Jeans Day.”

In an environment rooted in the community, the children carry pride in their hometown in their hearts as they grow up cheerful and energetic, looking toward the future.

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.

Seven children answered our questions this time.
It’s exciting to imagine their futures as dinosaur researchers, pilots, flight attendants, programmers, and more.

The children’s determination to pursue what they love gave us adults great courage and moved us deeply.

Thank you to everyone at Ajino Elementary School.