[Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
We’d like to introduce autumn nursery rhymes, songs, and traditional children’s songs that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
When you think of autumn, what comes to mind?
Pine cones, acorns, autumn leaves, moon-viewing… The more you think about it, the more images pop up, don’t they?
In this article, we’ve gathered wonderful classics that make autumn scenery unfold right before your eyes.
From gentle, soothing pieces unique to autumn that sink into the heart, to hand-play songs and traditional children’s tunes you can play and sing along with—these are all famous songs that let you experience autumn in many ways.
Be sure to listen together, sing along, and immerse yourselves in “autumn.”
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[Autumn Children's Songs] Autumn songs, school songs, and nursery rhymes. A collection of classic songs you’ll want to sing in autumn (21–30)
A midnight in autumnSakushi: Sasaki Nobutsuna / Sakkyoku: Kāru Maria Furīdorihi Erunsuto Fon Uēbā
It’s a beautiful autumn song that is often sung at children’s chorus competitions.
Many people learned it in elementary school, right? Perhaps it even sparked your interest in classical music.
The piece is from Weber’s opera Der Freischütz, with lyrics by Nobutsuna Sasaki, and it has long been cherished as a school song.
Carrying autumn’s melancholy on children’s clear voices, it’s a classic you’ll want to hear in this season.
Waltz of the Maple Leavessakushi: kudou naoko / sakkyoku: zuekiran naoko
It’s a charming song that conjures up images of maple leaves twirling and dancing in the wind.
The world that poet Naoko Kudo depicts, with personified maple leaves, is truly wonderful.
Its calm, warm melody gently cradles the poetic sentiment.
This piece is included in the choral collection “Giniro Jikan” and is loved in many settings, such as being performed in children’s song contests.
It would be lovely to hum it while sitting on a park bench on an autumn day, or to sing it together with family and friends.
[Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and nursery rhymes. A collection of classic tunes to sing in autumn (31–40)
a maple leafSakushi sakkyoku: Sasaki Nobutsuna
This is a charming children’s song written and composed by Nobutsuna Sasaki.
It depicts a heartwarming scene that brings to mind a child delighting in comparing fluttering, falling leaves with their own hands.
Its gentle melody makes it easy for children to sing, and the lyrics are filled with words that warm the heart.
It’s perfect not only for singing in preschools and kindergartens, but also for humming along with your child on an autumn stroll.
Be sure to sing together and enjoy the colors of the season.
Where is this mushroom?Sakushi: Morichiyoko / Sakkyoku: Zahatorte
This song unfolds like an autumn landscape right before your eyes.
It features humorous lyrics that ask where mushrooms grow and a catchy melody.
The playful idea that mushrooms might be in the forest, the sky, or the sea is sure to make children smile.
Introduced in September 2010 as the “Song of the Month” on Okaasan to Issho, it quickly became a favorite among many kids.
Its lively rhythm and cheerful tune are perfect for autumn walks and field trips.
It could be fun to sing together while actually going to look for mushrooms.
Why not enjoy singing it with family and friends while soaking in the beauty of autumn nature?
larchSakushi: Nogami Akira / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Hideo
It’s one of the famous choral pieces that were set as required works in the All-Japan Choral Competition and the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition (High School Division) in the 1980s.
“落葉松” is read as “Karamatsu” (Japanese larch).
Even with your eyes closed, the scenes rise before you—it’s a piece that speaks directly to the heart.
The poem by Akira Nogami already existed, and Hideo Kobayashi composed the music for it.
Deeply moved by the poem, Kobayashi contacted Nogami to ask to set it as an art song, but by then Nogami had already passed away.
Nogami would surely have wanted to hear it…
Cosmos flowerSakushi: Kumagai Hongo / Sakkyoku: Takatsuki Hiromitsu
This is a children’s song that layers a gentle, enveloping warmth over cosmos flowers swaying in the autumn breeze.
Created by children’s author Hongo Kumagai and composer Hiromitsu Takatsuki, the piece won the Grand Prize at the 1st Japan Original Children’s Song Competition in 1990.
The lyrics portray deep, motherly love and sincerity, offering quiet comfort to listeners.
After its award, the song was included in collections such as “Everyone’s Children’s Songs 200-1” and has continued to be sung ever since.
Listen to it on a slightly chilly evening while thinking of someone dear or your hometown, and its tender melody will slowly seep into your heart.
Rabbit, rabbitsakushi sakkyoku: fushō
Among children’s songs, this one falls into the “mystery” category because its lyricist and composer are unknown.
True to its cute title, it describes rabbits hopping about on the night of the harvest moon.
It’s said to have been sung in the Edo period, so it has quite a history.
There’s a legend that a rabbit is pounding mochi on the moon.
Could it be that the rabbit hops when looking at the harvest moon because its fellow rabbits are up there on the moon?
