A song that makes learning the times tables fun
Once you’ve cleared addition and subtraction, the next thing that comes along is multiplication!
The first step you need to learn is the multiplication table, known as “kuku.”
Once you’ve memorized it, many kinds of calculations become easier, but getting it down can be pretty tough.
So in this article, we’re introducing songs that make it easier to remember the kuku!
We’ve gathered a variety of tunes, from songs with fun rhythms to ones you can learn alongside popular characters.
Just rote memorization can get boring, but if you sing along to a rhythm, you can learn the kuku enjoyably!
Sing a lot and master the multiplication table!
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A fun song for learning the multiplication table (1–10)
Multiplication Table Memorization Songkorasho
Do you know Korasho, the schoolbag fairy? He’s the mascot character for the Benesse correspondence education program, and there’s a song he sings for learning the multiplication tables.
It’s called the “Multiplication Tables Memorization Song.” The content is basically just reciting the tables, but the lively music and cute voice make it easy to get into.
Since it’s produced by Benesse, I imagine they’ve researched and created music that captures children’s interest.
I’d love for you to first let your child listen and see how they react.
Doraemon Multiplication Table SongOoyama Nobuyo
Doraemon is a popular anime that virtually everyone—from children to adults—knows.
Shogakukan, the publisher that runs the Doraemon manga, releases various educational materials using Doraemon characters.
One of these is Doraemon’s Multiplication Song.
In it, Nobuyo Oyama, who voiced Doraemon, cheerfully sings mnemonic songs for the multiplication tables.
For children who are already familiar with Doraemon through the anime, it’s hard to imagine a better learning tool.
The Times Table SongMizuguchi Omi feat. Hime-chan, O-kun & Puri Hime Papa
Do you know Princess Hime Suite TV? It’s a family YouTube channel featuring a father and mother, their daughter Hime-chan, and their son O-kun.
Videos made from a child’s perspective are especially popular with elementary school students, and the channel has over 1.75 million subscribers.
Princess Hime Suite TV also offers a song to help memorize the multiplication tables.
The pop melody and lyrics displayed in hiragana make it easy to learn visually, too.
It’s especially recommended for children who are fans of the channel!
A fun song to learn the multiplication table (11–20)
99Tokasagīnyo sensei
Asagii-nyo is a YouTuber who’s expanding her activities across a wide range of fields, including music and illustration.
The “99Tok” series features 99 mnemonic songs created by her.
Each section has a unique twist, with the music and dance changing by stage.
For example, the second stage features the “Half-and-Half Dance,” and the third stage has the “Three Siblings Dance,” packing in plenty of playful ideas that make learning fun.
Some adults have even commented that the songs are so catchy they can’t get them out of their heads.
Multiplication Songumeneba-chan
Ibaraki Prefecture’s unofficial characters, Umeneba-chan and Nebaaru-kun, are now famous across Japan.
The multiplication table memory song they and their friends sing is called “Kakezan no Uta” (The Multiplication Song).
It’s posted on Nebaaru-kun’s official YouTube channel, so anyone can listen.
A key feature is that the songs are divided by each set of facts, making it easy to learn little by little.
For children who’ve never encountered multiplication before, it’s a perfect introduction.
Paprika (parody song)Takata-sensei
Paprika, composed by Kenshi Yonezu and sung by Foorin, is a hugely popular song among children.
Using the melody of Paprika, Asagii-nyo-sensei created a parody song to help kids memorize the multiplication tables, titled “Paprika (Parody).” In fact, it’s a labor of love that was completed after much trial and error and refinement.
As expected, singing along to a familiar tune seems to help children learn the times tables smoothly.
You could also sing while dancing, using movement to help the body remember the multiplication tables.
Song 99Ikeda Miyuki
Miyuki Ikeda posts nursery rhymes and hand-clapping songs on her YouTube channel.
One of her creations, designed to make it easier for children to memorize, is “The 9×9 Song.” While the lyrics follow the standard multiplication table, she adds variations in pitch and intensity to give it a nursery rhyme feel.
You can also watch a music video featuring cute characters on her YouTube channel.
Additionally, she reportedly offers the videos free of charge to educational institutions.
If you’re interested, be sure to check it out.