RAG MusicJapanese Songs
Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

Let's sing together! A collection of nursery rhymes everyone knows

Nursery songs that many people have sung in day-care centers, kindergartens, and schools.

These children’s songs, passed down through generations, are still sung today in childcare settings, schools, and even senior facilities.

That said, fewer people are singing them nowadays, and some children can be found who don’t know nursery songs at all.

In this article, we’ll introduce nursery songs that everyone—young and old—will recognize.

If you’re not very familiar with nursery songs, start by listening to the ones we introduce here.

Try singing nursery songs together with your child, your friends, or your grandparents, and have fun!

Playlist

Let's sing together! A collection of nursery rhymes everyone knows
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Dog PolicemanSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi
Dog PolicemanSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumiplay_arrow
The kindness of the police dog who helps a kitten
2Toy Cha-Cha-ChaLyrics: Akiyuki Nosaka・Osamu Yoshioka / Composition: Nobuyoshi Koshibe
Toy Cha-Cha-Cha Lyrics: Akiyuki Nosaka・Osamu Yoshioka / Composition: Nobuyoshi Koshibeplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme where toys come to life at night
3A Little Bear in the RainSakushi: Tsurumi Masao / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
A Little Bear in the RainSakushi: Tsurumi Masao / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akiraplay_arrow
A Rainy Day Bear Cub, a Heartwarming Nursery Rhyme
4There’s no such thing as ghosts.Sakushi: Maki Minori / Sakkyoku: Mine Akira
There's no such thing as ghosts.Sakushi: Maki Minori / Sakkyoku: Mine Akiraplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme that gently portrays a child's fears
5Ice Cream SongSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Hattori Kōichi
Ice Cream SongSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Hattori Kōichiplay_arrow
A familiar children’s song with lyrics by Yoshimi Satō
6dragonfly glassesSakushi: Nukaga Seishi / Sakkyoku: Hirai Kōzaburō
dragonfly glassesSakushi: Nukaga Seishi / Sakkyoku: Hirai Kōzaburōplay_arrow
A song that nurtures children's imagination with dragonfly glasses
7Close It, Open Itsakushisha fushou
Close It, Open Itsakushisha fushouplay_arrow
The hand-play song was composed by Rousseau and spread in Japan.
8Zebra SwirlSakushi: Endou Kouzou / Sakkyoku: Inui Hiroki
Zebra SwirlSakushi: Endou Kouzou / Sakkyoku: Inui Hirokiplay_arrow
A hand-clapping song about taking a zebra’s stripes off and turning it into another animal
9soap bubbleSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
soap bubbleSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpeiplay_arrow
Soap Bubbles is a masterpiece that conveys the fragility of life.
10butterflySakushi: Nomura Akio / Sakkyoku: Supein min’yō
butterflySakushi: Nomura Akio / Sakkyoku: Supein min'yōplay_arrow
The spring children’s song “Chōchō” is a tune from overseas.
11Sacchansakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi
Sacchansakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumiplay_arrow
Sacchan, a heartwarming classic with gentle lyrics
12Mountain Musicianssakushi: mizuta shisen / sakkyoku: doitsu min’yō
Mountain Musicianssakushi: mizuta shisen / sakkyoku: doitsu min'yōplay_arrow
A delightful children's song about animals playing musical instruments, “Yama no Ongakuka” (The Musicians of the Mountain)
13The Bear of the ForestSakushi: Baba Yoshihiro / Sakkyoku: Amerika min’yō
The Bear of the ForestSakushi: Baba Yoshihiro / Sakkyoku: Amerika min'yōplay_arrow
The origin of the scout song “The Bear of the Forest”
14Tanuki of Fist Mountainsakushi sakkyoku: fushō
Tanuki of Fist Mountainsakushi sakkyoku: fushōplay_arrow
Parent-child communication through nursery rhymes
15I accidentally broke the clarinet.Sakushi: Ishii Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Furansu dōyō
I accidentally broke the clarinet.Sakushi: Ishii Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Furansu dōyōplay_arrow
Exploring the Mysteries and Charms of Clarinet Music
16Mr. ElephantSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
Mr. ElephantSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikumaplay_arrow
A gentle children's song depicting the bond between an elephant parent and child
17Calendar MarchSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako
Calendar MarchSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakakoplay_arrow
A fun march that sings about seasonal events
18TulipSakushi: Kondo Miyako / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi
TulipSakushi: Kondo Miyako / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshiplay_arrow
Spring tulips and children’s smiles
19KintaroSakushi: Ishihara Wasaburō / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazō
KintaroSakushi: Ishihara Wasaburō / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazōplay_arrow
A valiant child of Mount Ashigara’s song, with lively lyrics
20horse (childish/affectionate term)Sakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Matsushima Tsune
horse (childish/affectionate term)Sakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Matsushima Tsuneplay_arrow
A song story depicting the affection between a foal and its mother horse
21Adorable foalSakushi: Satō Hachirō / Sakkyoku: Niki Takio
Adorable foalSakushi: Satō Hachirō / Sakkyoku: Niki Takioplay_arrow
A classic that warmly portrays a scene of a foal and a child
22Song of the Resounding GrasslandsSakushi: Kubota Yuzuru Sakkyoku: Maruyama Aki
Song of the Resounding GrasslandsSakushi: Kubota Yuzuru Sakkyoku: Maruyama Akiplay_arrow
A children's song from Mongolian folklore, Melody of Light and Wind
23Horse’s tail, pig’s tail.Sakushi: Abe Hitomi / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naozumi
Horse's tail, pig's tail.Sakushi: Abe Hitomi / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naozumiplay_arrow
An adorable nursery rhyme about a horse and a pig’s tails
24Foal’s Rhythm PlayMonbushō shōka
Foal's Rhythm PlayMonbushō shōkaplay_arrow
A playful rhythmic chant that expresses the hoofbeats of a foal
25Goat MailSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
Goat MailSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikumaplay_arrow
The Story of the White Goat and the Black Goat’s Letters
26All mothersamerika min’yō
All mothersamerika min'yōplay_arrow
The Mysterious Song of the Horse and the Piglet, a Japanese Children's Song
27Ten thousand feet in the Alps
Ten thousand feet in the Alpsplay_arrow
At the summit of Kogyari, enjoying a hand-clapping song.
28Mountain MusiciansDoitsu min’yō
Mountain MusiciansDoitsu min'yōplay_arrow
A Fun Concert by the Forest Animals
29Picnic Marchsakushi: Ide Takao / sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
Picnic Marchsakushi: Ide Takao / sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshiplay_arrow
A lively marching tune that makes walks more fun
30Ho! Ho! Ho!Sakushi: Itō Akira / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
Ho! Ho! Ho!Sakushi: Itō Akira / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshiplay_arrow
Songs from NHK's “Okāsan to Issho”
31Teacher and friendsSakushi: Yoshioka Osamu / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
Teacher and friendsSakushi: Yoshioka Osamu / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshiplay_arrow
A song to support children's kindergarten life
32One, two, three
One, two, threeplay_arrow
Jump over creatures with a good tempo and dance!
33Frog ChorusSakushi : Okamoto Toshiaki / Genkyoku: Doitsu min’yō
Frog ChorusSakushi : Okamoto Toshiaki / Genkyoku: Doitsu min'yōplay_arrow
A song with an easy-to-remember melody that’s good for singing in a round
34Story FingerSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
Story FingerSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akiraplay_arrow
A heartwarming nursery rhyme to enjoy with finger puppets
35Oh, the ranch is green.
Oh, the ranch is green.play_arrow
Let's move our bodies to the rhythm!
36Potato Jaguar
Potato Jaguarplay_arrow
Potato Jaguar is a song popular with children.
37Zebra Swirl
Zebra Swirlplay_arrow
Zebra Round and Round, a Fun Rhythm Song
38Picnic
Picnicplay_arrow
A rhythmic song that enjoys the sounds of animals
39Yaho-ho
Yaho-hoplay_arrow
Let's have fun with kids by yodeling!
40Happy Children
Happy Childrenplay_arrow
Fun warm-up exercises at Happy Children
41Let’s go to the park.Sakushi sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu
Let's go to the park.Sakushi sakkyoku: Sakata Osamuplay_arrow
A warm spring song that transcends generations
42Cute Hide and SeekSakushi: Satou Hachirou/Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao
Cute Hide and SeekSakushi: Satou Hachirou/Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinaoplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme about animals playing hide-and-seek
43The Hungry Tummy Songsakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi
The Hungry Tummy Songsakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumiplay_arrow
The charm of a fun children's song that depicts hunger
44The Bento Box SongSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Akihiro
The Bento Box SongSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Akihiroplay_arrow
The Bento Box Song, a beloved classic among children
45Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akiraplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme about the excitement of riding a bus
46spring breezeSakushi: Katō Yoshikiyo / Sakkyoku: Fositā
spring breezeSakushi: Katō Yoshikiyo / Sakkyoku: Fositāplay_arrow
The charm of gentle nursery rhymes that sing of spring’s arrival
47We’ll take care of the demon here.Sakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
We’ll take care of the demon here.Sakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotakaplay_arrow
A fun Setsubun song, let’s all sing together