Nursery rhymes and play songs to enjoy with your baby. Gentle children's songs.

TulipSakushi: Kondo Miyako / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi

Tulips (Nos. 1–3) — Lyrics by Miyako Kondo; additional lyrics and composition by Takeshi Inoue

This is one of Japan’s most beloved children’s songs, depicting a beautiful spring scene of red, white, and yellow tulips blooming in a row.

Miyako Kondo’s lyrics carry a warm message that recognizes diversity—“every flower has its own beauty”—and, together with Takeshi Inoue’s friendly melody, make it a tune that people of all ages can hum naturally.

Widely cherished in kindergarten and elementary school music classes, it was selected in 2006 for the list of 100 Best Japanese Songs.

It’s the perfect piece for when you want to feel the arrival of spring or enjoy singing with children!

campfire

Bonfire – Taki Bi | By the hedge, by the hedge, around the corner—it's a bonfire, it's a bonfire, burning fallen leaves [Japanese Song / Shoka]

This is the seasonal children’s song “Takibi,” a classic for autumn and winter.

Babies may not yet have a sense of the seasons, but its easy-to-sing nature and clear melody make it perfect to play as a video while you look after them.

Gonbe-san’s Baby

[Hand Play] Gombei’s Baby♪

Gonbe-san’s Baby was created based on an American folk song.

It’s a song featuring a character named Gonbe-san—who covers his head with a tenugui and ties it under his chin—and a baby.

It depicts a scene where the baby catches a cold, and you use your hands to show actions like holding the baby and having a bright idea.

You can enjoy a unique move where, in a fluster, you end up putting a cold compress on yourself by mistake.

Once you’re used to it, try picking up the tempo.

Give this hand play a try and make the most of this familiar melody that everyone has heard at least once.

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mutō

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butterfly

[Children's Song] Butterfly / Daisuke Yokoyama

We’d like to introduce “Chōchō,” a hand-play song with delightfully gentle, floating hand movements.

Based on a Spanish folk tune and arranged by Akiashi Nomura, this song has long been beloved by many children.

The lyrics depict a butterfly fluttering about, moving from flower to flower.

Matching the words, you form a butterfly shape with both hands to express it dancing.

The mesmerizing motions and soothing melody are sure to comfort babies.

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yamamoto

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What color do you like?

What Colors Do You Like? Fun Characters and the 9-Color Long Version / Popular Song from Okaasan to Issho / Lyrics & Music: Osamu Sakata / Cover: Otousan mo Issho

“What’s the name of my favorite color?” With the song “Which Color Do You Like?” kids can have fun singing while learning color names.

Children, who are naturally curious about the world around them, are likely feeling, even without saying it out loud, “I like this color” as they see many colors every day.

It’s great to tell them each time, “This is [color],” but learning through a song might make it easier to match the names with the colors.

As you sing, find the same colors in the things around you and in the clothes you’re wearing, and enjoy learning the names of colors.

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yuri

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a round egg

Round Little Egg [Fingerplay Song]

“Maarui Tamago” is a hand-play song themed around eggs, and the hand movements that match the onomatopoeia and mimetic words give a delightfully fun impression.

First, you put your hands together to represent a round egg.

Then you act out the egg cracking and a chick emerging from inside.

Since it features many onomatopoeic and mimetic expressions that children tend to love, it’s likely to capture their interest even more.

Another fun point is that sometimes a creature that doesn’t exist in real life hatches from the egg.

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Rolling Eggs

[Hand play] Rolling Egg (Marika)

The hand-play song “Korokoro Tamago,” which repeats the same motions, is also recommended.

It depicts an egg rolling, a chick that hatches and walks, and a grown chicken crowing.

You show the egg by making a fist and rolling your arms, the chick by moving your index finger up and down, and the chicken by flapping your hands.

All the motions are simple, so it’s considered easy for children to imitate from an early stage.

Another appeal is that kids can enjoy moving their bodies in big, dynamic ways.

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