Japanese Shoka, Children's Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Timeless masterpieces that resonate in the heart, passed down across generations
Do you ever recall the nursery rhymes and children’s songs you sang with family and friends when you were little? The nostalgic songs—including the Monbushō shōka (Ministry of Education songs)—are treasures of Japan that have been passed down across generations.
Still, there are times when you remember a title but can’t recall the lyrics, or you know the melody but can’t remember the title.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of shōka, nursery rhymes, and traditional children’s songs that everyone has heard at least once.
As you listen to those nostalgic voices, try humming along with someone dear to you.
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Japanese Shoka, Children’s Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Timeless classics that resonate across generations (1–10)
hometownSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi
A classic song with a warm melody that gently comforts the heart when you suddenly feel a bit lonely thinking of your hometown.
Its lyrics depict the primal landscapes of home, like the hills where we chased rabbits and the river where we caught small crucian carp.
Released to the public in 1914 as a Ministry of Education school song, it was performed at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, moving audiences around the world.
It’s a masterpiece that even overseas groups like IL DIVO continue to sing in Japanese.
It’s the perfect piece for those striving far from home, quietly reflecting on their roots while listening to the autumn insects’ song.
Momotarosakushi: fushō / sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi
An immortal children’s song composed by Teiichi Okano that sets a classic Japanese folktale to music.
Since its inclusion in the Ministry of Education’s textbook in 1911, it has been beloved by countless children for over a century.
The brave tale of heading to Onigashima with a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant as companions is depicted with an easy-to-remember melody.
This piece is also familiar as the approach chime at JR West’s Okayama Station.
It’s fun for everyone to sing together while looking back on the story through the lyrics, which extend through verse six!
The Puppy Police OfficerSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi
This work, which portrays a heartwarming story of a police dog gently trying to help a lost kitten, is one of Japan’s representative children’s songs, where Yoshimi Sato’s warm lyrics and Megumi Ohnaka’s familiar melody blend beautifully.
While empathizing with the kitten mewing “nyan, nyan, nyan” in distress, the police dog also seeks help from a crow and a sparrow, and his kindness and efforts warmly touch listeners’ hearts.
Composed in the 1950s to 1960s, the song became beloved through educational programs such as NHK’s “Minna no Uta” and “Okaasan to Issho,” and continues to be cherished by many children.
Japanese Shoka, Children’s Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Timeless Masterpieces That Resonate Across Generations (11–20)
TulipSakushi: Kondo Miyako / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi
It is one of the most beloved children’s songs in Japan, depicting a beautiful spring scene with red, white, and yellow tulips blooming in a row.
Miyako Kondo’s lyrics carry a warm message that recognizes diversity—“every flower has its own beauty”—and, together with Takeshi Inoue’s friendly melody, make it a tune that people of all ages can hum naturally.
It’s a perfect song for when you want to feel the arrival of spring or enjoy singing with children!
snowMonbushō shōka
This is a Ministry of Education school song celebrating the gentle, beautiful arrival of spring.
It was included in the 1910 “Elementary School Reader Songs.” The lyrics express the joy of spring visiting the mountains, villages, and fields, and embody the Japanese people’s delicate sensitivity to the seasons.
The song also showcases masterful use of particles—for instance, using ni to describe the state of flowers blooming and de for the action of birds singing—highlighting the beauty of the Japanese language.
It’s a classic piece perfect for anyone who wants to spend a heartwarming moment while feeling the changing of nature.
Close It, Open It
This is a nursery rhyme that’s very popular in childcare settings and children’s programs.
Many of you may remember singing it while doing hand motions when you were little.
Because it’s fun to sing while moving your fingers, it’s now often sung not only as a recreation activity in preschools and kindergartens, but also in day service programs for the elderly.
Toy Cha-Cha-ChaSakushi: Nosaka Akiyuki, Yoshioka Osamu / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
It’s a children’s song with a toy theme that’s very popular among kids.
One fun aspect of this song is how it sparks the imagination—“What if the toys start marching while we’re asleep?” You can enjoy it in many ways, like clapping along to the ‘cha-cha-cha’ or doing choreography for the whole song.