“Gather Around, Elementary School Students!” Daini Fukuda Elementary School Edition (Broadcast June 21, 2025) 〜 Weaving the Future at a School with More Than 150 Years of History! The Dreams Children Imagine

“Gather Around! Elementary School Students” airs on FM Kurashiki every Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Hosted by Asuka Abe, the program visits elementary schools in Kurashiki City to report on the schools and their districts’ appeal, and interview children about their big dreams. The children’s candid voices offer a chance to rediscover the charms of the local community.

The June 21, 2025 broadcast featured Daini Fukuda Elementary School.

We bring you the lively voices of the children.

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

The information in this article was accurate when it was published in August 2025. 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 the schools they visit to take a closer look at what makes their schools special. The program also features “What Makes Our District Special,” in which children share what they like about their local area from an elementary school student’s perspective.

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

This time, the program visited Daini Fukuda Elementary School, founded in 1873. The school has a history of more than 150 years and, as of 2025, has over 800 students. To mark its 150th anniversary, the children also created a mascot character called “Happy-chan.”

The children were eager to tell us what makes Daini Fukuda Elementary School special.

About Daini Fukuda Elementary School

The first student to introduce the school was Tatsumi Ginga. He seemed unable to hide his nerves, saying, “I feel like my heart is going to stop,” but he gave his presentation confidently.

According to Tatsumi, when you enter the main gate of Daini Fukuda Elementary School, you are first greeted by a stone monument bearing the school motto, “Bright, Kind, and Strong.” Recently, the school has also focused on “discovering what makes each of us special,” and started an initiative called “Friendship Week” to encourage kindness.

They write about their friends’ good qualities and express their gratitude on cards called Heart Cards, then share them with one another. Tatsumi himself said, “One of my good qualities is that I’m cheerful.”

The teachers at Daini Fukuda Elementary School are cheerful and energetic, and explain lessons clearly.

Local volunteers also watch over the children as they travel to and from school and provide learning support. It is a wonderful school where the whole community warmly looks after the children.

Daini Fukuda Elementary School Students Share What Makes Their School and District Special

Next, we’ll hear about what the children are proud of: “what makes their school and district special.”

Three elementary school students shared three memorable things they are proud of, each revealing the close ties between the school and its community.

1. Life Park Kurashiki: Experience and Learn About the Stars and Science

Nakahara Ko was proud of the nearby complex, Life Park Kurashiki.

Life Park Kurashiki has a science center and a library center. The science center, which Nakahara introduced this time, offers facilities where visitors can enjoy science exhibits, films, and a planetarium.

At Daini Fukuda Elementary School, fourth graders visit the planetarium as part of their science lessons. “I learned so much about things I’d never known before, like the names and movements of stars and constellations,” he said.

Nakahara was most impressed by the fact that you can see a rocket engine at Life Park Kurashiki. He seemed amazed by its power.

It is an important local hub where children can learn and have fun with friends and family not only during school lessons, but also on weekends and after school.

2. Kindhearted Local People Who Support the School

Koide Meina was proud of the kindhearted local people and volunteers who support the school.

She told us that the school is supported by many people, including the “Child Development Committee,” whose members watch over students to ensure they can travel to and from school safely, and the “Standing Committee,” which organizes various activities and events.

Thanks to this kind of community support, students at Daini Fukuda Elementary School get to enjoy a wide range of experiences.

Koide said she fondly remembers “mandarin orange picking” during a third-grade social studies class and “rice farming” in fifth grade. She expressed her gratitude to local farmers for giving her these valuable experiences.

“We get to have so many experiences thanks to the people in our community. I love the local people who support Daini Fukuda Elementary School,” Koide said, conveying the strong bond between the school and its community.

3. The School’s Signature Event: The Autumn Event

Noguchi Kasumi was proud of the “Autumn Event,” a school event held at Daini Fukuda Elementary School every fall.

With help from parents and other local adults, the Autumn Event features festival stalls such as shooting galleries and super ball scooping. Both students and local residents can enjoy the event together.

The school grounds are lined with stalls selling delicious food, and fireworks are set off at the end of the event, making it a festival full of fun for the children.

“I went to the Autumn Event last year, too, and made some fun memories with my friends,” Noguchi said, explaining how the event adds color to school life.

Children’s Voices as They Look to the Future

After hearing all about what makes the school special, we asked everyone about their dreams for the future.

Nineteen students took part in the interviews.
Their dreams were wonderfully varied, from excelling in sports and pursuing creative careers to expressing their love for their families. It’s exciting to imagine what the future holds for them.

Their determination to pursue the things they love gave us adults warmth, courage, and inspiration.

Thank you to everyone at Daini Fukuda Elementary School.

From the Writer

Through the voices of children, “Gather Around! Elementary School Students” will continue to share the appeal of schools and local communities with you.

With every school visit, we have seen how children grow day by day, supported by the warmth of their teachers and local community members.

FM Kurashiki will continue to watch over the children in the community and support their healthy, happy lives.