Minowa-Higashi Elementary School has a natural setting on a slightly elevated terrace with the Tenryu River flowing in the neighborhood, and is surrounded by the Ina mountains, which include the Central Alps. Even on a holiday, children can be seen playing in the schoolyard feeling refreshed in a familiar atmosphere.

In the past, each group of children shared one camera, but this time, each child had a camera of his or her own. Although impatient to go out to take photographs, the children listened attentively to instructions on how to use a camera and how to take good photographs.
All of their preparations proved worthwhile, and during the photography session, the junior photographers were delighted to take photos of nature close to them. Although it was a familiar rural area on their way to and from school, when looking at it through a camera, it looked like a different world. New discoveries were made such as one child realizing that there were so many insects in the area. Their schoolyard was also a site for the photo session. The schoolyard has many trees, and flowerbeds are full of pretty flowers such as tulips. Each child freely enjoyed using a camera.

At the presentation meeting, they looked a little shy at the beginning, but they seemed to realize how enjoyable it was to take photos. They could use the macro mode, and the pictures were beautiful and in focus. We believe that this program has provided them with a good opportunity to enjoy photography in the future.