江戸川区立 小岩小学校

Stepping back in time, imagine the year 1875. A small schoolhouse appears amidst the bustling landscape of what is now Edogawa City. This is the origin story of Koiwa Elementary School, known locally as 江戸川区立 小岩小学校. Koiwa Elementary has seen its share of transformations over the years. Its history whispers tales from the Meiji era to the modern day. Originally, the school grounds were a simple dirt field. Later, an artificial turf field was installed, perfect for sporting events and games. The old field wasn’t quite up to par, apparently prone to causing injuries during play. Thanks to a sports promotion subsidy, the upgrade happened during the summer break of 2015. Even before that, the field had been concrete. It had to be changed because the students were reportedly getting hurt. The current school building isn’t the first to grace this spot. The previous structure, an orthodox style, was notable for its unique blue exterior walls. If you could climb to the rooftop access points at either end of the fourth grade classrooms, you’d have a stunning view. You could even see the signboard of Ito Yokado Koiwa store in the distance, along with a stretch of the JR Sobu Main Line. Koiwa Elementary also holds a special place in the community. The school pool hosts a lively swimming competition, welcoming students from Kita-Koiwa Elementary School every year. And during election season, the school transforms into a polling station, buzzing with civic activity. More recently, in 2020, Koiwa Elementary became part of Canon’s “School Building Ideas Project”. A project where students and parents collaborated to create artwork for the school. The project involved a tree-like symbol where the trunk was designed by parents and the children crafted the leaves. The project created a lot of buzz and positive feedback within the school and the wider community. The children were excited to create something large-scale on a surface they wouldn’t normally be allowed to draw on. The shared experience and the opportunity to admire different grade levels’ artwork further enriched the project. It’s another chapter in the ongoing story of Koiwa Elementary School, a testament to its enduring connection to the community it serves.