[February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
February brings Setsubun and the chant “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!” In nurseries and kindergartens, there are likely many chances to sing songs related to Setsubun.
But in fact, there are plenty of songs perfect for February beyond just Setsubun tunes! In this article, we introduce songs connected to February and children’s songs that are perfect for the harshly cold season.
Many of them can be sung with hand-play motions, so children are sure to enjoy them.
Please make use of them on days when it’s too cold to play outside or during music time.
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[February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter! (71–80)
Thunder God has arrived.Sakkyoku: Suzuki Tsubasa
This piece is a popular hand-play song joyfully sung in nurseries and kindergartens.
A thunder-god-like figure suddenly appears, and if you don’t hide certain parts of your body, they’ll be taken—an unusual concept that captivates children.
With its brisk rhythm and simple melodic line, it’s designed so kids can naturally join in—another standout point! In July 2014, a picture book of the same name was released, allowing for multiple ways to enjoy it: sing after reading, or read after singing.
It’s a perfect song for February, when cold winter days mean more time spent indoors.
Singing while moving the body can also help improve children’s body awareness and concentration.
Horn, horn, hoooorn!Sakkyoku: Suzuki Tsubasa
The hand-play song created by Tsubasa Suzuki is hugely popular in nurseries and kindergartens.
With lyrics themed around animal horns and fun choreography, it sparks children’s imaginations.
Kids use their hands to mimic the horns of rhinos and reindeer, and get excited at the “No!” phrase.
Spreading on YouTube around 2018 and included on the album “Inai Inai Waoh!,” the song also gained attention through a collaboration video with the YouTube channel BonBon Academy.
It’s a perfect winter tune for moving your body and playing indoors on cold days.
Demon Parent and ChildSakushi Sakkyoku: Masuda Yūko
The hand-play song “Oni no Oyako” features a child oni, a father oni, and a mother oni.
As you do the hand motions, you sing about the size and look of each oni’s horn.
It seems the size and style of the thunder they carry also change depending on the horns.
The child oni, whose horns and thunder are still small, can only make a little rumble! Keeping the same basic choreography, you play by making the movements bigger or smaller to match each character’s traits.
It’s something you can enjoy together with moms and dads too!
Even Kaze-san.Sakushi: Shibayama Kaoru/Satō Hachirō/Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao
Here is a charming song with lyrics that personify the wind.
The lyrics were written by Kaoru Shibayama, with additional contributions by the renowned Hachiro Sato, and the music was composed by Yoshinao Nakata.
While the melody itself is adorable, what truly stands out is the accompaniment.
The piano accompaniment evokes a refreshing image of the wind, and simply listening to it conjures up the entire atmosphere of the piece.
Although it is a children’s song, it might be lovely for a singer to perform it with just piano accompaniment.
Plum blossoms and nightingalesMonbushō shōka
Here is a Ministry of Education song that was published in 1911 for the second grade of elementary school.
It’s a cute and simple piece depicting a bush warbler coming to the plum tree in the garden.
Speaking of plums and bush warblers, you might recall the motif from hanafuda playing cards.
By the way, while plum blossoms and bush warblers often appear together as a metaphor for things that go well together, the “bush warbler” in this context is actually a Japanese white-eye.
It isn’t green, but rather a brownish or grayish color.
Knowing this little bit of trivia can make listening to the song even more enjoyable.