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 September 13, 2025 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Otaka Elementary School" located in Horinaka, 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 directly interview the sixth graders of the visited elementary schools to deeply explore the charm of the school everyone attends. Additionally, the "School District Pride" segment, where children introduce the good and favorite aspects of their community from their perspective, is also noteworthy.
They share 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 Otaka Elementary School located in Horinaka, Kurashiki City. Established in 1873 (Meiji 6), it boasts a history of over 100 years.
The Charm of Otaka Elementary School was shared by the children right away.
About Otaka Elementary School
The first to introduce the school was Nana Kubota. She spoke confidently, seemingly without any nervousness, and shared three charms of the school.
The first is that the total number of students exceeds 1,000.
According to a survey conducted in 2024, Otaka Elementary School had the third largest number of students in Kurashiki City.
Not only can students deepen their interactions with many people, but during events like the sports festival and learning presentations, everyone works together, making it more enjoyable and engaging. During the sports festival, she mentioned that the 144 students in her grade formed a circle and united their spirits.
The second charm is that to ensure a comfortable school life, all students are working on the "Otaka Four Pillars".
The Otaka Four Pillars represent four actions: "Greeting", "Arranging Shoes", "Walking in the Hallways", and "Silent Cleaning". While not everyone has perfected these actions yet, it seems that the management committee and sixth graders are exchanging opinions to ensure everyone can participate joyfully.
And the third charm is that there is interaction with paired grades.
At Otaka Elementary School, sixth graders are paired with first graders, and fifth graders with third graders. The paired grades plan to play together during recess and share their performances during the sports festival, enjoying interactions across grades.
Kubota-san said, "By talking to people from grades we don't usually interact with, we learn how to engage with people of different ages."
At Otaka Elementary School, which has a large number of students, it was clear that initiatives leveraging this number are being implemented. It was an introduction to a school where not only horizontal connections but also vertical bonds can be felt.
Children of Otaka Elementary School Talk About "School & School District Pride"
Next, we will introduce the "pride in their school and school district" that the children are proud of.
Three elementary school students shared the charms of the Otaka school district.
1. A Summer Tradition in the Community! "Otaka Summer Festival"
The first presenter was Ayana Yamamoto.
She introduced the "Otaka Summer Festival," a summer tradition held every year at Otaka Elementary School.
The Otaka Summer Festival features numerous stalls, and Yamamoto-san recommended the shooting game and shaved ice.
The shooting game is fun because you can feel like a sniper shooting with a toy gun. When it comes to playing at festival stalls, the shooting game is definitely a must.
Shaved ice tastes even better when eaten in a crowded and humid venue, she mentioned. The crunchy ice and sweet syrup are indeed a flavor unique to summer festivals.
The Otaka Summer Festival is held every year as a community event where local people gather. Yamamoto-san excitedly said, "I want to go with my friends again this year."
At the time of recording, it was before the 2025 Otaka Summer Festival.
2. Abundant Parks that Nurture Mind and Body
Next, Hina Kanno introduced the abundance of parks in the Otaka school district.
Kanno-san mentioned that there are two charms of the parks.
The first charm is that they are rich in nature.
Not only do they have playground equipment like swings and slides, but they also have spacious grounds and many trees, which she feels enrich the mind.
The second charm is that they have various playground equipment so that children of all ages can enjoy them. There are facilities like slides, sandpits, swings, and horizontal bars that many children can enjoy.
Kanno-san particularly recommended Sakezu Park.
Sakezu Park has a place for water play, making it especially enjoyable during hot seasons. The environment where children can play freely is a big attraction for them.
3. An Area with Delicious Shops
Finally, Yuka Mimura presented that there are many delicious shops in the Otaka school district. She introduced two shops that she particularly recommends.
The first shop is "Yakiniku Marui Butcher Shop".
At this shop, meat is transported on the Shinkansen, and children under elementary school age receive a treat at the end, making it a place where both adults and children can enjoy. It is a child-friendly shop where you can enjoy delicious yakiniku with excitement.
The second shop is a bento shop called "Okazuya Natsuki".
The side dishes are homemade, and the menu changes daily, so she feels excited even before eating, wondering, "What will today's side dishes be?" The bento contains a balanced mix of meat, fish, and vegetables, ensuring good nutrition, which is also a recommended aspect.
It seems that there are many other delicious shops in the Otaka school district, making me want to visit.
The pride expressed by the children is filled with charm that makes you want to visit the Otaka school district. I hope they can eat delicious food, play freely in the parks, and grow up healthily. Thank you, everyone at Otaka Elementary School.
Voices of Children Looking Toward the Future
After learning about the school's charms, we also asked everyone about their future dreams.
Twenty children participated in the interview.
Some children spoke brightly about the jobs they want to try in the future, while others, who have not yet decided on a profession, expressed, "I want to be this kind of person!" Each response was full of individuality, and imagining everyone's future selves is exciting.
The sight of children challenging themselves with "what they love" as their driving force gave us adults great courage and inspiration.
Thank you, everyone at Otaka Elementary School.
Conclusion
In "Gather! Elementary School Students," we will continue to deliver the charms of schools and communities through the voices of children.
Every time we visit an elementary school, we feel the warm support of the teachers and the community, and we see the children growing day by day.
FM Kurashiki will continue to watch over the local children so that they can grow up healthily and happily.
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Data of FM Kurashiki "Gather! Elementary School Students"
| Name | FM Kurashiki "Gather! Elementary School Students" |
|---|---|
| Address | 520-28 Shirakuratown, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-430-0828 |
"Gather! Elementary School Students" can also be listened to from the FM Kurashiki website.