"Gather Around! Elementary School" Old Matsumoto Elementary School Edition (Aired on September 20, 2025) - Efforts of Old Matsumoto Elementary School Aiming for a Better School with the Motto "O-I-Matsu"

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 20, 2025 (Saturday), we introduced the situation at "Oimatsu Elementary School" located in Oimatsu-cho, 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 directly interview sixth graders at the visited elementary schools to deeply explore the charm of the school everyone attends. Additionally, the "School District Pride" segment introduces the good and favorite aspects of the community from the perspective of elementary school students.

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 Oimatsu Elementary School located in Oimatsu-cho, Kurashiki City. There are 849 students enrolled, and the school is full of energy every day.

The charm of Oimatsu Elementary School was immediately shared by the children.

About Oimatsu Elementary School

The first presenter for the school introduction was Yui Oogaki. Despite being nervous, she presented lively in front of everyone.

The first introduction was about the four catchphrases that correspond to the initials of "O-I-M-A-T-SU," which is related to the school name. Let's learn about the meanings behind each hiragana.

"O" stands for "Kind and Compassionate Children."
They are conscious of helping those in need and treating younger students kindly. There are initiatives like "Fureai Time," where they spend time together with paired grades, and "Friendship Week."

"I" stands for "Children Who Learn Vigorously."
They strive to actively participate in classes by sharing their opinions during discussions. They are also challenging themselves with "Management Learning," where they create their own learning plans.

"MA" stands for "Serious and Hardworking Children."
They are conscious of asking friends when they don't understand something and making many presentations during class. Oogaki mentioned that working hard until the end of the time is also a good point of "Oimatsu Kids."

"TSU" stands for "Children Who Build Strong Bodies."
They play outside and engage in activities to build strong bodies while having fun. The sixth graders even practice at home and showcased a powerful gymnastics performance at the physical education presentation.

Next, they introduced the cleanliness of the school building.

Oimatsu Elementary School has wide stairs and a "Multipurpose Hall" on each floor for gatherings. Additionally, they have barrier-free facilities, making it a comfortable environment for those with physical disabilities or injuries.

Finally, they told us about the various committee activities.

For example, the "Cultivation Committee," which beautifies the school with flowers through watering plants, the "Health Committee," which considers initiatives for safe and healthy living, the "Broadcasting Committee," which conducts TV broadcasts during lunch, and the "Lunch Committee," which introduces lunch cleanup and nutrition. Many committees are working to make the school a better place.

Oogaki concluded, "While inheriting the wonderful traditions left by our seniors, we are all aiming for an even better school," and I felt the wonderful unity of Oimatsu Elementary School.

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

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

Three elementary school students shared the charm of the Oimatsu school district.

1. Gentle Connections with Kindergartens and Nursery Schools

The first presenter was Juno Hanafusa, who introduced the connection with Oimatsu Nursery School and Oimatsu Kindergarten.

At Oimatsu Elementary School, when students reach the fifth grade, they deepen exchanges by visiting Oimatsu Kindergarten and Oimatsu Nursery School, and conversely inviting them to the elementary school.

They also learn practical ways to communicate with consideration for others, and practice to become "Pair Supporters."

Through repeated learning and exchanges, they become better at interacting with friends of different ages. In Oimatsu-cho, initiatives are being carried out to foster communication skills beyond the boundaries of the school.

2. Warm Interactions with Community Volunteers

Next, Riku Kikuchi talked about community members who engage in volunteer activities.

In the Oimatsu school district, there are many community members who volunteer at the school. Volunteer activities range from beautification efforts in parks, daily monitoring and greetings, morning story readings, to learning volunteers.

What particularly reflects the character of Oimatsu Elementary School is the chair covers made by volunteers. The chair covers purchased at the time of enrollment are a point of pride for Oimatsu Elementary School, as they can be used for six years, Kikuchi mentioned.

3. Expanding Learning and Play, Facilities in Oimatsu School District

Finally, Mio Matsuoka presented about the convenient facilities near the school.

Near Oimatsu Elementary School, there are stations, libraries, and swimming schools.

Having a station nearby increases the means of transportation to distant places, such as trains and buses, which are utilized for trips like school excursions. The library is useful for quietly reading books or researching, especially for summer vacation projects. The swimming school right next to the school allows students to stop by after school for swimming practice.

With such public facilities being well-equipped, it seems that friendships with students from other schools increase, and friendships across grades are formed. It is clear that the Oimatsu school district is a comfortable place for children to live.

Through the pride expressed by the children, it was conveyed that the Oimatsu school district has an environment where the entire community watches over and nurtures the children. Let's continue to support the children so they can grow lively.

Voices of Children Looking Toward the Future

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

Seventeen students participated in the interview.
They shared unique aspirations, such as becoming admired sports players, band members, game creators, and the assistant manager of "the most delicious ramen shop in Japan." 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 Oimatsu Elementary School.