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