[Children’s Day Hand-Play Songs] A Collection of Nursery Rhymes & Traditional Children’s Songs for Parents and Kids to Enjoy Together
May 5th is Tango no Sekku—Children’s Day, a holiday celebrating children’s healthy growth! Many families decorate with carp streamers and samurai dolls and enjoy a festive meal.
In this article, we’ve gathered some recommended hand-play songs perfect for Children’s Day.
How about trying them with your family after the celebration? These are all ideal for kids in nursery school and kindergarten, so have fun adding Children’s Day–themed twists as you play!
- Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
- Songs to Listen to on Children’s Day | A Curated Selection of Music for Tango no Sekku!
- [Warabe-uta] Beloved Classic Songs Passed Down Through Generations
- Fun for Children’s Day! A Collection of Performance and Play Ideas Recommended for Early Childhood Education
- [Music Play] Children’s Recreational Music: Rec Songs You Can Sing and Play
- [For 1-year-olds] Fun Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection
- [Childcare] Summer songs: Full of fun! Summer nursery rhymes & finger-play songs
- Nursery rhymes to sing in spring: a collection of classic songs you'll want to sing with your children
- Get pumped with kids’ favorite songs! A memorable collection of classics that will make you want to sing along
- Hand-play songs to sing for Hinamatsuri. Songs everyone can enjoy.
- [Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
- Children’s songs for Hinamatsuri: A collection of songs everyone can sing together for the Doll Festival
[Hand Play Songs for Children's Day] A Collection of Nursery Rhymes & Traditional Children's Songs to Enjoy with Parent and Child (71–80)
soap bubbleSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
A classic adorned with a gentle melody that resonates in children’s hearts and lyrics that are fragile yet beautiful.
Created hand in hand by Ujo Noguchi and Shinpei Nakayama, this work left a profound mark on the history of Japanese children’s songs and continues to be loved by many today.
In a 2003 survey conducted by the NPO “Japan Doyo Association,” it was ranked ninth among favorite children’s songs and was also selected for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “100 Best Songs of Japan.” At Yumoto Station in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, it is even used as the departure melody.
Why not enjoy a hand-play game while singing it with your child on Children’s Day? You’re sure to have a heartwarming time.
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Bi / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
Since the 1970s, this piece has been cherished as a song that captures the excitement of going on field trips and off-site activities by bus.
It beautifully blends Akira Yuyama’s lively melody—winner of the Japan Children’s Song Award—with Yoshiko Kayama’s lyrics, written from a young child’s perspective.
The song is often featured at preschool and kindergarten recitals and sports days.
Singing it as if you’re riding on a bus is sure to boost children’s spirits! It’s also perfect for getting everyone excited before heading out.
Picnicdeguchi takashi
A song that gently portrays the fun of a picnic in a meadow and warm interactions with flowers and insects, highlighted by Takashi Deguchi’s uniquely soothing vocals.
Released on an album in November 2022, it was also featured on a children’s educational TV program.
Perfect as a fingerplay song for singing and dancing with kids—ideal for activities at daycare and kindergarten, as well as family bonding time.
Since numbers appear in the lyrics, it’s also great for practicing counting!
tea pickingbunkashō shōka
Published in 1912 (the 45th year of the Meiji era), this piece is a song that conveys Japan’s cherished traditional culture and the beauty of nature.
It gently depicts the early-summer scenery that arrives around the 88th night of spring and the scenes of tea picking, featuring a light, approachable melody.
Its rhythmical lyrics, aligned with the motions of tea picking, also carry elements of a work song.
In 2007, it was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs” by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the National PTA Council of Japan, and it has been featured in various contexts such as children’s songs, anime, and TV dramas.
While tea picking may not be very familiar to people today, why not enjoy it with your children as an opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture?
Tanuki of Fist Mountain
“Gonkotsuyama no Tanuki-san” is a traditional children’s song loved by people of all ages.
It’s themed around everyday experiences everyone can relate to, like being held or falling asleep.
Learn the cute choreography—such as drinking motions and sleepy gestures—and have fun playing along.
You can also add your own twist at the end of the chorus, like striking a pose or playing rock-paper-scissors.
With phrases that evoke a parent–child relationship and a cheerful melody, it’s a song that resonates with joy.
Give it a try as a hand-play song to liven up Children’s Day!
