[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.

Playlist

[February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Cha-Cha-Cha of the SnowmanSakkyoku: Tashi Kamei		A cheerful song that makes snowmen start dancing
2	We’ll take care of the demon here.Sakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka		A song for inviting demons into your home and making them your allies
3	An Apple’s SoliloquySakushi: Takeuchi Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Mitsuyo		A heartwarming classic that traces the journey of fruit
4	Bear Cub in FebruarySakkyoku: Ichikawa Toshiharu		A bear wakes early from hibernation and waits for spring.
5	Spring somewhereSakushi: Momota Sōji / Sakkyoku: Kusakawa Shin		The beauty of the season as it shifts from winter to spring
6	Ogre Pants (Original Song: Funiculi Funicula)Sakkyoku: Ruīji Denza		Fun Oni Pants Song for Setsubun
7	oden (Japanese simmered hot pot dish)		Let's have fun playing with the oden hand play song
8	Hymn to the Snowy MountainsSakushi: Nishibori Eizaburō		A song of snowy mountains, powerfully expressing their severity and beauty
9	KodANUKI PonpoSakushi: Suzuki Etsuo / Sakkyoku: Oyama Takateru		A story about a little tanuki waiting for red gloves
10	Bean-throwing (Mamemaki)Monbushō shōka		Call in good fortune with the Setsubun bean-throwing song
11	Grill the mochi		Smiles with children through mochi hand play
12	Mother’s SongSakushi Sakkyoku: Kubota Satoshi		A song that recalls the warmth of family in the winter cold
13	skiingSakushi: Shigure Otowa / Sakkyoku: Hirai Koizaburo		A rousing winter carol about gliding down snowy mountains
14	Kantarō the North Wind KidSakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		Winter song “Yuki (Snow),” a famous piece from NHK’s Minna no Uta
15	Yakiimo goo-choki-pasakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: yamamoto naozumi		Enjoying winter with a roasted sweet potato hand play song
16	Moku-moku fuyuunSakkyoku: Byūtifuru Hamingubādo		A heartwarming acoustic piece that captures a gentle winter ambiance.
17	Bean bean bean throwingSakkyoku: boku to kimi.		Memories of childhood come back with the Setsubun song
18	Forest Soup ShopSakkyoku: Ike Tsuyoshi		A warm song of soup made with friends of the forest
19	TroikaRoshia min’yō		A cheerful folk song that briskly runs through a snowy landscape
20	I like winter.Sakkyoku: Shibuya Takeshi		A song depicting the joy and warmth of winter
21	Brr!Sakkyoku: boku to kimi.		A fun hand-play song for the cold winter
22	fluffy snowteasobi		Enjoy winter to the fullest with fun snowy hand-play songs!
23	Ticotin, the winter fairySakushi / Sakkyoku: Suzuki Tsubasa		Songs that parents and children can enjoy together in the cold season
24	Cha-Cha-Cha of the SnowmanSakushi / Sakkyoku: Tajiga Akira		Winter fingerplay song 'Yukidaruma no Cha-Cha-Cha'
25	The wind and the snow are my friends.sakushi: kobayashi jun’ichi / sakkyoku: neruson & rorinz		"Children of the Snowy Town" Winter Song
26	A Snowstorm Nightsakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / sakkyoku: Ichikawa Gakuchi		Listening to a song on a winter night amid a blizzard
27	bonfire (open fire)Sakkyoku: Watanabe Shigeru		The winter children’s song “Takibi” depicts coldness and warmth.
28	Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue OgreSakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		The red ogre and the blue ogre dance a joyful tango.
29	Snow KobōzuSakkyokusha: Fushō		Yuki no Kobōzu: the folk song’s origins are unknown, but it’s a fun tune.
30	Brr, it’s so cold.Sakkyoku: Warabe Uta		A children's song that sings of the harsh cold of winter
31	The Spinning SongSakkyoku: Komori Akihiro		Let's make small accessories together with a fingerplay song.
32	The Snow PainterSakkyoku: Ando Takashi		The snow painter paints the town white.
33	Come, springSakushi: Soma Gyofu / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryutaro		Let's listen to the famous song 'Haru yo, Koi' as we await spring
34	Song of the Ehomakiichigo kurabu		Eat an ehomaki in silence and make a wish
35	winter scenerySakkyokusha: Fushō		An appealing school song of unknown authorship
36	Black Cat Tango (Original song: Volevo un gatto nero)Sakkyoku: Mario Pagāno		Fun music with a cat tango
37	A Town Where It SnowsSakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		Loneliness and Hope Felt in a Snowfall Town
38	Powdery snow konkoSakkyoku: Hirao Kishiō		A classic, easy-to-sing winter children’s song with powdery snow
39	Snow (Yuki ya Konko)Sakkyokusha: Fushō		Warm winter scenes depicted in a snow-themed children's song
40	Ski SongSakkyoku: Hashimoto Kunihiko		Exhilarating winter music for enjoying skiing
41	MomotaroSakkyoku: Okano Teiichi		A perfect song for Setsubun that sings the story of Momotaro
42	The Song of KonkonshyanSakkyoku: Yuyama Akira		Kids can enjoy wearing masks to prevent colds.
43	Winter nightMonbushō shōka		Everyone’s Songs: The Charm of Winter Songs
44	oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Asei		A play song where you huddle together on a cold day to feel warmth
45	White RoadSakkyoku: Vivuarudi		Walking on a snowy road, reminiscing about memories with my mother
46	Elephant’s hatSakkyoku: Nakamura Hiroaki		A cute children's song in which various animals go into Mr. Elephant's hat.
47	Spring StreamMonbushō shōka		The spring brook begins to thaw, and I feel the breath of life.
48	Snow Festivalsakushi sakkyoku: Minami Ranbō		Nostalgic folk music that weaves feelings of waiting for spring
49	Snowball fightMonbushō shōka		A fun nursery rhyme depicting children having a snowball fight.
50	Mukkuri Kuma-sanSuweeden min’yō		A fun song themed around bear hibernation
51	Constellations of Winter (Original: Mollie Darling)Sakkyoku: Wiriamu Heisu		The 1947 textbook-included parody song “Winter Constellations”
52	Happy HinamatsuriSakkyoku: Kawamura Naonori (Kawamura Koyo)		Let's start practicing the Hinamatsuri song from February.
53	Song of the Bathhouse		A song to warm the body and soul in the cold February, sung in the bath
54	Hymn to the Snowy Mountains (Original Tune: Oh My Darling, Clementine)amerika min’yō		Introducing the postwar classic song “Hymn to the Snowy Mountains.”
55	pine coneSakkyoku: Kobayashi Tsuyae		A children's song with lyrics by Takao Hirota and music by Tsyae Kobayashi.
56	Calendar MarchSakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		A children's song about yearly events
57	Mr. Penguin’s Mountain ClimbSakushi: Abe Naomi / Sakkyoku: Abe Naomi		A lighthearted hand-play song that depicts penguins sliding on the ice.
58	The Kitten’s BakerySakushi: Fuyumori Kayoko / Sakkyoku: Hayashi Akira		The Tale of a Kitten Who Forgot Its Bakery Job on Cat Day
59	hail (small hailstones)Sakkyoku: Yanagida Tadashi		A winter song of falling hail that soothes a child’s heart.
60	chocolateSakkyoku: Kutsuna Mika		A sweet and bittersweet song for Valentine’s Day
61	Snow DanceSakushi: Yui Keizō		A fun winter song, a melody that enjoys the sound of snow
62	Momotaro defeats the ogres!		An old folktale about Momotaro defeating ogres with his companions.
63	A Demon Parent and Child		A composition that lightly depicts an ogre parent and child.
64	Ogre’s HornsSakkyoku: Kutsuna Mika		Music to enjoy and stay energized through the winter
65	Choco-choco chocolateSakushi Sakkyoku: Aramaki Shake Hirai Takato Kidsu Purannaa		Valentine’s Day chocolate fingerplay song
66	white friend(s)Sakkyoku: Sakata Osamu		A children's song awaiting the snowmelt
67	Rural Wintersakkyoku: Shimazaki Akataro		A snowy, cold morning—nostalgic winter scenery in the countryside.
68	Winter Song (Original: Bulgarian Folk Song)Sakkyoku: Furisto Nejarukofu		Nursery rhyme of snow sleighs, international musical exchange
69	Plum blossoms and nightingalesMonbushō shōka		Plum blossoms with a bush warbler—the scene from a Ministry of Education school song.
70	While Oni is awaywarabeuta		A children's song depicting the bean-throwing ritual
71	Yuki said they like rain boots.Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira		A scene of children happily playing on a snowy day
72	Snow and ChildrenSakkyokusha: Fushō		A children's song depicting the hearts of children waiting for snow
73	Kocho-ko ChocogaagaaS		Valentine’s fingerplay song, fun.
74	Thunder God has arrived.Sakkyoku: Suzuki Tsubasa		Let's have fun moving our bodies with the Thunder Song!
75	Horn, horn, hoooorn!Sakkyoku: Suzuki Tsubasa		Tsubasa Suzuki’s hand-play songs are hugely popular with children.
76	Demon Parent and ChildSakushi Sakkyoku: Masuda Yūko		A hand play song about an ogre parent and child—its horns and thunder are fun.
77	Even Kaze-san.Sakushi: Shibayama Kaoru/Satō Hachirō/Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao		A cute nursery rhyme that personifies the wind
78	frost pillarswarabeuta		A hand-clapping song that portrays winter frost columns
79	Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku		Pechka, a heartwarming fireplace song for the cold winter