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!

Playlist

Songs to Listen to on Children’s Day \| A Curated Selection of Music for Tango no Sekku!
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	The family of carp streamersKeroponzu		Family Bonds of the Koinobori
2	Children around the worldSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka		A classic song in educational settings that conveys a message of intercultural coexistence
3	Raise the carp streamers.gaagaaS		Hand play experience with the Koinobori raising song
4	That’s good too.kocchi no kento		A song with a warm message that affirms diversity
5	Height comparisonSakushi: Umino Atsushi / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei		The children’s song “Height Comparison” for Children’s Day
6	carp streamerSakushi: Kondō Miyako / Sakkyoku: Fushō		The origin and meaning of the Koinobori song
7	Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku)sakushi sakkyoku: Ōtani Yūka		The relationship between songs celebrating the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku) and dragons
8	strollInoue Azumi		Lively to the theme song of Totoro
9	A I U E O music ♬GReeeeN		A fun melody song that uses the Japanese syllabary
10	If you’re happy and you know it, clap your handsAmerika min’yō (sakushi: Kimura Toshihito)		A hand-clapping song filled with peace and friendship: 'Ue o Muite Arukou' (Sukiyaki)
11	Anpanman ExerciseSakkyoku: Makaino Kōji / Henkyoku: Kondō Hiroaki		A message song of courage and bonds, lyrics by Takashi Yanase
12	rainbowSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka		A gem of a song that sings of hope with a rainbow theme
13	paprikaFoorin×Yonezu Kenshi		Foorin and Kenshi Yonezu’s song of children’s hope
14	I love big hugs!Sakushi: Tadokoro Yoko / Sakkyoku: Tayama Masamitsu		A warm song that sings of the joy of embracing and of love.
15	Friendship HymnAmerika min’yō (sakushi: Sakata Hiroo)		A heartwarming song that conveys friendship and unity
16	What color do you like?Sakushi Sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu		A song to nurture children's sensibility through colors
17	Picnic Marchsakushi: Ide Takao / sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi		A song from an NHK children’s program that’s popular at events like sports days
18	bento (boxed lunch)Sakushi: Amano Chou sakushi / Sakkyoku: Ichinomiya Michiko		A children's song that nurtures table manners and a spirit of gratitude
19	Children’s Day, Adults’ DaySakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka		A growth-encouragement song celebrating the parent-child bond
20	Koinobori Swimming Through Space!machi akari		A delightful song of carp streamers swimming through space
21	yomogi-jōbu nowarabeuta asobi		Children’s song games for Boys’ Day (Tango no Sekku)
22	Everyone loves you.Kiroro		Kiroro’s warm message song
23	Doraemon: Make My Dreams Come Truemao		The charm of the Doraemon theme song and the untold story of its creation
24	What will you be when you grow up?amerika min’yō		Nurturing children's imagination through finger-play songs
25	Mountain MusiciansDoitsu min’yō		A folk song in which forest animals play musical instruments
26	Choo-choo trainSakushi: Tomihara Kaoru Sakushi / Sakkyoku: Kusakawa Shin		A prewar song had its lyrics changed after the war.
27	Issun-bōshi (The One-Inch Boy)Sakushi: Iwaya Konami / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazō		A traditional song that tells the heroic tale of demon-slaying.
28	Seagull SailorSakushi: Takeuchi Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Mitsuyo		Introduction to a children's song themed around harbor scenery
29	snailMonbushō shōka		The charm of a children's song themed around snails
30	Urashima TaroMonbushō shōka		The Ministry of Education school song that sings the story of Urashima Tarō
31	A bamboo shoot has sprouted.warabeuta asobi		Expressing the growth of bamboo shoots through a hand play
32	KintaroSakushi: Ishihara Wasaburō / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazō		A valiant child of Mount Ashigara’s song, with lively lyrics
33	koinobori (carp streamers)sakushi: fushō / sakkyoku: Hirota Ryūtarō		Wishing for children's growth with carp streamers
34	Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku)Sakushi sakkyoku: Yuuko		A Tango-Style Boys’ Festival Song Composed by Yuko
35	Children’s Daysakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi		An introduction to a short children’s song for Children’s Day
36	motherSakushi: Tanaka Nana / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		A nursery rhyme depicting the warm relationship between a mother and child
37	shoulder tapSakushi: Saijō Yaso / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shimpei		A song where a child taps their mother's shoulders
38	Tan-go FestivalSakushi sakkyoku: Ichigokurabu		A children's song introducing the meaning and culture of Tango no Sekku (Boys' Festival)
39	Tango no Sekku (the Boys’ Festival)Morita Doji		Morita Dōji fondly sings about her childhood
40	carp in the pondsakushi sakkyoku: fushō		A children's song that calls out the carp hidden in the pond
41	Squeeze, squeeze, kashiwa mochi.Sakushi: Sakura Tomoko / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyuki		A children's song about kashiwa mochi (oak leaf-wrapped rice cakes)
42	Children of the wind across Japansakushi: Yuyama Akira / sakkyoku: Mitsukoshi Sachio		A famous song that sings about the wind that makes carp streamers swim
43	Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku)Yamaki Yasuyo (Fukinotō)		A nostalgic Children’s Day song by members of a folk group
44	Tea Pickingsakushi sakkyoku: fushō		Shincha (new tea) in early summer is best picked around the 88th night.
45	Song of Children’s DaySakushi: Maki Fusayu / Sakkyoku: Hara Kenichi		A nostalgic national song for Children's Day
46	A-I-U-E-O nigiriSakushi Sakkyoku: Shuu Saeko		Singing about the joy of making rice balls and the bonds of family
47	To the Sun in the Palm of Your HandSakushi: Yanase Takashi / Sakkyoku: Izumi Taku		A children's song that sings of the preciousness of life and of hope
48	soap bubbleSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei		A beloved classic with a gentle melody is still cherished today
49	Picnicdeguchi takashi		Takashi Deguchi’s Field Picnic Hand-Play Song
50	It will be sunny tomorrow.Sakushi Sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu		A moving work that sings of the importance of friendship and of hope
51	The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomSakushi: Katō Shōgo / Sakkyoku: Kainuma Minoru		A postwar children’s song depicting feelings toward one’s mother
52	Karada DandanSakushi: Yoshida Sensha / Sakkyoku: Kosugi Yasuo		A gymnastics song that lets children enjoy moving their bodies
53	swallowYOASOBI with Midorīzu		YOASOBI produced the theme song for an SDGs program, based on a work by Nana Otsuzuki.
54	Applause for you!sakushi: aritarou/sakkyoku: masuda tarou		A healing song that conveys gratitude and support through applause
55	Me wearing armorSakushi Sakkyoku: Pasu		A song themed around armor and helmets
56	Song for Children’s DaySakushi: Yoda Jun’ichi / Sakkyoku: Sakata Tomiharu		A song for everyone to celebrate Children’s Day