[Children’s Day Hand-Play Songs] A Collection of Nursery Rhymes & Traditional Children’s Songs for Parents and Kids to Enjoy Together

Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Bi / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira

Bus Pretend Play (♪ We’re riding on a big bus ~ To our neighbor, hey!) by Himawari 🌻 With Lyrics | Children’s Song | BUS GOKKO | Vehicle Song, Eurhythmics, Nursery Teacher Exam Set Piece 2019

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

[Finger Play] "Picnic" [Takashi's Hand Play & Children's Songs] Japanese Children’s Song, Finger Play Songs

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

♪ Tea Picking – The 88th Night, with summer drawing near ♪ (with gestures) [Hand play • Japanese song • Shoka]

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?

Piglet-raccoon dog-fox-catSakushi sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naozumi

Kobuta, Tanuki, Kitsune, Neko [Song by Mama and Papa] - Okaasan to Issho nursery rhyme hand play

A hand-play nursery song by Naotsumi Yamamoto that captures children’s hearts with adorable animal sounds and a friendly melody.

The lyrics cleverly link four animals in a word-chain style, blending the fun of moving your body with hand-play choreography.

Broadcast on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” and later beloved in choral versions as well, it has continued to be cherished by many parents and children.

Why not become animals together with your child, move your arms and legs wide, and enjoy a moment full of smiles?

To the Sun in the Palm of Your HandSakushi: Yanase Takashi / Sakkyoku: Izumi Taku

[♪ Song Anime] Hold Your Palms Up to the Sun (Sung by: Icchi & Naru) We’re All Alive~ ♪ [Children’s Song / Nursery Rhyme]

A wonderful song in which Takashi Yanase’s gentle lyrics and Taku Izumi’s bright melody blend beautifully, teaching us that earthworms, dragonflies, and frogs are our precious friends too.

Created in 1961 and broadcast the following year on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” it quickly captured the hearts of many.

It has since been covered by numerous artists, including Dark Ducks and BON-BON BLANCO, and featured in the film “Chiisana Jumbo” and the TV anime “Sore Ike! Anpanman.” Cherished across generations, from children to adults, this work is also perfect as a hand-play song for families to enjoy together.

Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba

♪Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky [with gestures] Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky, a big, big ship 〜♪ [Children’s song / nursery rhyme]

A song that paints a large ship in the blue sky and sings of an adventure to a new world is full of charm that richly nurtures children’s imaginations.

Along with energetic calls and cheers, its uplifting message that expands their hopes for dreams will surely resonate deeply in children’s hearts.

Beloved in kindergartens and nursery schools, this work shines in scenes where children sing together, such as at sports days and concerts.

Its structure, which lets children move their bodies joyfully while singing, is also a major appeal that enables everyone to have fun as one.

It is a cherished piece in childcare and educational settings.

Song of a little birdsakushi: Yoda Jun’ichi / sakkyoku: Akutagawa Yasushi

♪ Little Bird Song (with hand motions)

This charming children’s song features a bright, light melody and adorable onomatopoeia that evokes birds chirping.

Depicting a little bird gently calling for its mother and father, it was released in 1954, and its tender lyrics expressing love for parents have warmed hearts across generations.

Many people likely sang it in nursery school or kindergarten when they were young.

In educational settings, it is often sung during May’s Bird Week.

It’s a perfect song for families to enjoy together with hand-play actions.