Songs to Listen to on Children’s Day | A Curated Selection of Music for Tango no Sekku!
As Children’s Day approaches, is there a song that you suddenly find yourself humming?Nursery rhymes and seasonal songs related to Tango no Sekku have long been cherished across generations as an important part of Japanese culture.In this article, we’ll introduce songs associated with Tango no Sekku that will fill you with nostalgia the moment you hear them—from those everyone knows to classic tunes whose lyrics you might not actually remember.Singing them with your child will make seasonal traditions feel closer and more fun.Enjoy them together with your family!
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Songs to Listen to on Children's Day | A Curated Selection of Music for Tango no Sekku (Boys' Festival)! (41–50)
Children of the wind across Japansakushi: Yuyama Akira / sakkyoku: Mitsukoshi Sachio
Here is a charming song that personifies the wind that makes carp streamers swim all across Japan as “Kaze no Ko” (Child of the Wind), and it can also be enjoyed as a cute rhythm activity.
It’s occasionally featured in kindergartens and nursery schools, and with its refreshing melody it’s perfect for May.
No wonder—its composer is Akira Yuyama, who created the famous piece “Amefuri Kumanoko.” Though not widely known, it’s a hidden gem that deserves to spread far and wide as a Children’s Day song.
Tea Pickingsakushi sakkyoku: fushō
Early summer is the season for shincha, fresh green tea.
When I pass by a tea shop, the wonderful aroma lures me in and I can’t help but buy the new harvest.
The “Eighty-Eighth Night,” which appears in the song and is said to be the prime time for picking tea, is the 88th day from the first day of spring on the traditional calendar, and it usually falls on May 1 or 2.
Because the number eight, which suggests prosperity, appears twice, it’s also considered an auspicious day.
Everyone can hum the song “Chatsumi” (Tea Picking), but isn’t it strange how the lyrics in the latter half often get fuzzy? This year, let’s learn verses one and two with the children and sing them proudly on Children’s Day.
It will be sunny tomorrow.Sakushi Sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu
A moving song from NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” gently singing about the importance of friendship and a hopeful future.
Its warm melody and encouraging lyrics carry a message to children who feel lonely and isolated.
First broadcast within the program in March 1999, the piece depicts friends gathering on a green meadow, holding hands and singing together—a song that gives you the courage and energy to face forward.
It’s a heartwarming number you’ll want to hum along to with your family.
Song of Children’s DaySakushi: Maki Fusayu / Sakkyoku: Hara Kenichi
Compared to “Koinobori,” this song may be less well-known, but it’s a fine, nationally beloved Children’s Day song.
The lyrics, paired with a gentle melody, evoke the feeling of a refreshing breeze.
It’s a song that carries a certain nostalgia, and I hope it will continue to be sung for generations to come.
swallowYOASOBI with Midorīzu
I think many of you have heard it, since it’s the theme song for NHK’s children’s SDGs program series “Hirogare! Irotoridori.” YOASOBI creates music inspired by literary works, and this time the original story is Nana Otsuki’s “A Little Swallow’s Big Dream.” The lyrics follow a single swallow flying to many places and seeing many different scenes, carrying the thought, “We could make a better future, couldn’t we?” The first-person “boku” feels packed with YOASOBI’s signature flavor! The elementary school unit Midories is super cute, too.
It’s a perfect song to enjoy on Children’s Day.
Me wearing armorSakushi Sakkyoku: Pasu
As the description on the video site says, “There weren’t any songs about armor and helmets, so I made one,” this is truly a Children’s Day song written and composed by Pasu.
Come to think of it, there are plenty of children’s songs and nursery rhymes, but none themed around armor and helmets, right? The lyrics—along the lines of “If I put on armor and a helmet and time-traveled, I’d make Takeda Shingen and Oda Nobunaga my retainers and go to battle!!”—are great fun, and it’s a song I’d love more people to discover.
The melody, which has the feel of a nursery rhyme that could have existed for decades, is spot on!
A-I-U-E-O nigiriSakushi Sakkyoku: Shuu Saeko
A bright, rhythmic tune themed around the joy and smiles of making rice balls as a family.
With lyrics that spark curiosity and imagination about everyday ingredients, it captivates children’s hearts.
First broadcast on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in April 2001, the song has been covered by many artists, including Satoko Yamano and the Himawari Kids.
It’s used in nursery schools and kindergartens as part of food education, and it’s also recommended to hum along at home while making onigiri with your child.