“A school is a place that has a long history.” That’s what children might say about Osaka Municipal Ohiraki Elementary School. This public elementary school stands in Osaka’s Fukushima Ward. Specifically it is located in Ohiraki 2-chome.
Let’s delve into the story of Osaka Municipal Ohiraki Elementary School. It began as Osaka Fifth Nishinoda Ordinary Elementary School on October 25 1920. This makes it a school with a rich past. In 1941 it was renamed Osaka Ohiraki National School. This change came about due to the national school order. Then in 1947 it officially became Osaka Municipal Ohiraki Elementary School.
Before its establishment two other schools existed. These were Osaka Third Nishinoda Ordinary Elementary School and Osaka Fourth Nishinoda Ordinary Elementary School. The areas of these schools were reorganized to create Osaka Municipal Ohiraki Elementary School.
Interestingly in 1944, pupils were evacuated to Hiroshima Prefecture. Specifically they went to the Fukuyama City area during World War II. Evacuation became policy in Osaka. Children who did not need to evacuate with relatives were sent as groups from their schools.
Osaka Municipal Ohiraki Elementary School also has connections to Konosuke Matsushita. Matsushita was the founder of Panasonic. The area is known as the place where he started his business. The school uses Matsushita as a theme in its lessons about local figures.
The school’s history includes several milestones. In 1963 the school established its school song. In 1964 it was designated as an Osaka City Greening Promotion School. By 1965 standard school uniforms were introduced. In 1971 it won an award at the National Flower Bed School Contest. In 1972 the schoolyard became a model for community access.
More recently in 2001 the school celebrated its 80th anniversary. A new school building was also completed. From 2005 to 2007 the school focused on individuality. It was designated as a research school for cultivating individuality. In 2011 a medaka pond was expanded. A school biotope was created. In 2015 the school was designated as an ICT model school. Also since 2016 part of the schoolyard has been turned into a lawn.
Osaka Municipal Ohiraki Elementary School continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the needs of its students and the community. It stands as a testament to the enduring importance of education in Osaka. The school is located near several train stations. These include Nodahanshin Station and Noda Station. The children who graduate from here go on to Noda Junior High School.