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

A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes—songs that make you feel happy when you sing them.

There are so many nursery rhymes that are popular with children!

There are songs about animals, songs about food, songs about the seasons—the themes are varied, and each song has its own mood.

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of especially cheerful songs from among the most popular nursery rhymes all at once!

We’ve gathered lots of songs that will put you in a happy mood whether you listen to them or sing along.

Please sample the songs we introduce below, and be sure to enjoy listening to and singing your favorites!

Playlist

A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes—songs that make you feel happy when you sing them.
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastGood morning, crayonSakushi / Sakkyoku: Taniyama Hiroko
Good morning, crayonSakushi / Sakkyoku: Taniyama Hirokoplay_arrow
A fun song where crayons turn into food
2eastChildren all over the worldSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
Children all over the worldSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotakaplay_arrow
A song of peace spreading with smiles, a children's song overflowing with hope
3eastPicnic Marchsakushi: Ide Takao / sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
Picnic Marchsakushi: Ide Takao / sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshiplay_arrow
A lively marching tune that makes walks more fun
4eastLet’s go to the forest.
Let's go to the forest.play_arrow
A healing song that lets you feel the nature of the forest
5eastGhost Village MazeNontan to otomodachi
Ghost Village MazeNontan to otomodachiplay_arrow
The Ghost Maze Song with Nontan
6eastGreen light from the blue sky
Green light from the blue skyplay_arrow
With a green light from the blue sky, toward a fun future
7eastPicnic
Picnicplay_arrow
A rhythmic song that enjoys the sounds of animals
8eastHaohao
Haohaoplay_arrow
A lively, feel-good song about ghosts
9eastHalloween is not scary.Ritoru Enjeru
Halloween is not scary.Ritoru Enjeruplay_arrow
Sing about Halloween frights and overcome them with fun
10eastYaho-ho
Yaho-hoplay_arrow
Let's have fun with kids by yodeling!
11eastyour smile
your smileplay_arrow
Let's spread smiles with a lively song!
12eastYour ColorSakushi/Sakkyoku: Edamamenzu
Your ColorSakushi/Sakkyoku: Edamamenzuplay_arrow
A colorful children's song, let's dance happily
13eastyou know
you knowplay_arrow
Lyrics and composition: This is a song by Hayumi Takahashi. In nursery schools and…
14eastHappy Children
Happy Childrenplay_arrow
Fun warm-up exercises at Happy Children
15eastMagic Shoes
Magic Shoesplay_arrow
An upbeat, fun song that conveys a desire to take on challenges.
16eastOne, two, three
One, two, threeplay_arrow
Jump over creatures with a good tempo and dance!
17eastA Rainy Day on the Ranch
A Rainy Day on the Ranchplay_arrow
A cheerful song of animals on a rainy ranch
18eastI wish it were so.
I wish it were so.play_arrow
Nursery rhymes that both children and adults can enjoy
19eastRow the boat
Row the boatplay_arrow
Have fun with the summer hand-play song 'Ofune wo Koide' (Row the Boat)
20eastMs. Himawari
Ms. Himawariplay_arrow
Cheering on children’s growth with a sunflower song
21eastWhen the Dock (Japanese knotweed) blooms
When the Dock (Japanese knotweed) bloomsplay_arrow
When the sorrel blooms, a cheerful spring nursery rhyme
22eastA quiet lakeside
A quiet lakesideplay_arrow
A quiet lakeside, a song popular among children
23eastLet’s dance, Ondo!
Let's dance, Ondo!play_arrow
A bon odori song everyone can enjoy, adding color to the summer festival
24eastGenki Ondo
Genki Ondoplay_arrow
Liven up the summer festival with a lively Bon Odori song
25eastTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Starplay_arrow
Introduction to the hand play for “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
26eastThe stars are good friendsboku to kimi.
The stars are good friendsboku to kimi.play_arrow
Introduction to the 'Oh, Little Stars' friendly hand play
27eastlittle starSakushi: Tsuzuki Masuyo / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
little starSakushi: Tsuzuki Masuyo / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikumaplay_arrow
A song that considers the brilliance of stars together with a child
28eastHo! Ho! Ho!Sakushi: Itō Akira / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
Ho! Ho! Ho!Sakushi: Itō Akira / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshiplay_arrow
A fun, uplifting song—let’s all dance together!
29eastIt’s fun.sakushi: yamauchi kazuko / sakkyoku: terashima naohiko
It's fun.sakushi: yamauchi kazuko / sakkyoku: terashima naohikoplay_arrow
Enjoying sounds and movements with friends in a choir
30south_eastIt’s fun.
It's fun.play_arrow
Classic songs that children can enjoy singing
31eastLet’s have fun.Sakushi / Sakkyoku: Shinapu
Let's have fun.Sakushi / Sakkyoku: Shinapuplay_arrow
Popular songs for babies, warm music
32eastThe Goldfish’s Nap
The Goldfish’s Napplay_arrow
Goldfish Nap, a soothing song popular with children
33eastI want to become the sun!Sakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
I want to become the sun!Sakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotakaplay_arrow
A heartwarming song cheering on children's futures
34eastGood morning!Fukuda Sho
Good morning!Fukuda Shoplay_arrow
Our hearts connect through a bright song, like the morning light.
35eastOh, the ranch is green.
Oh, the ranch is green.play_arrow
Let's move our bodies to the rhythm!
36eastZebra Swirl
Zebra Swirlplay_arrow
Zebra Round and Round, a Fun Rhythm Song
37eastA Drop of Star
A Drop of Starplay_arrow
A fun song with a bright rhythm you can dance to
38eastGanbarappa☆Ganbarūn
Ganbarappa☆Ganbarūnplay_arrow
An upbeat, positive song to enjoy the summer
39eastHappy ChildrenShinzawa Toshihiko
Happy ChildrenShinzawa Toshihikoplay_arrow
A song where children's smiles spread happiness
40eastGhost Ninja Doron Doron Doron
Ghost Ninja Doron Doron Doronplay_arrow
The fun song of the ghost ninja is popular with children.
41eastCircle, triangle, square
Circle, triangle, squareplay_arrow
With easy-to-understand lyrics and a spacey vibe...
42eastLet’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
43eastRabbit Dance
Rabbit Danceplay_arrow
Introduction to delightful children's songs from 1924
44eastIt will be sunny tomorrow.
It will be sunny tomorrow.play_arrow
Lyrics and composition by Osamu Sakata, for “With Mother and…”
45eastJaku-jaku Amanojaku
Jaku-jaku Amanojakuplay_arrow
Lyrics: Mitsuhiko Fujiki, Music: Kumoyuki (Fukuoka…
46eastFound you!
Found you!play_arrow
A song written and composed by Tortoise Matsumoto, and on NHK…
47eastrainbow-coloredayaka
rainbow-coloredayakaplay_arrow
A song that also became the theme for a morning drama, and the children...
48eastThe Bento Bus
The Bento Busplay_arrow
Imagining the lunch box as a bus, that bento bus...
49eastThe Bento Bus SongSakushi sakkyoku: Shinju Mariko
The Bento Bus SongSakushi sakkyoku: Shinju Marikoplay_arrow
Ingredient Bus, a song loved by children with a fun tune
50eastHey, Kaba-kun!sakushi: nakagawa itsuko / sakkyoku: nakagawa hirotaka
Hey, Kaba-kun!sakushi: nakagawa itsuko / sakkyoku: nakagawa hirotakaplay_arrow
The charm of animals for children through hippopotamus songs
51eastWhat color do you like?Sakushi: Sakata Osamu / Sakkyoku: Inui Yuki
What color do you like?Sakushi: Sakata Osamu / Sakkyoku: Inui Yukiplay_arrow
The charm of children’s songs that sing about the world of colors
52eastStory FingerSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
Story FingerSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akiraplay_arrow
A heartwarming nursery rhyme to enjoy with finger puppets
53eastPlaying 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
54eastRoly-poly pill bugSakushi sakkyoku/Shinzawa Toshihiko
Roly-poly pill bugSakushi sakkyoku/Shinzawa Toshihikoplay_arrow
A cute hand-play song for little creatures
55eastA caterpillar
A caterpillarplay_arrow
Children fascinated by bugs in a springtime park
56eastLet’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba
Let's draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishibaplay_arrow
The Appeal of Songs That Nurture Children's Dreams and Hopes
57eastThey say they want to wake up feeling refreshed.
They say they want to wake up feeling refreshed.play_arrow
Let's get moving energetically with a morning exercise song!
58eastChurippu sharippuwarabe uta
Churippu sharippuwarabe utaplay_arrow
Connecting children's hearts through nursery rhymes
59eastWhat is your name?Sakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Indoneshia min’yō
What is your name?Sakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Indoneshia min'yōplay_arrow
A cheerful folk song to ease children's nerves
60eastUnder the big chestnut tree
Under the big chestnut treeplay_arrow
Enjoying gymnastics under the big chestnut tree
61eastThere’s no such thing as ghosts.
There's no such thing as ghosts.play_arrow
A popular song about fear of and curiosity toward ghosts
62eastTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Starplay_arrow
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is a famous song popular with children.
63eastChoki-choki Dance
Choki-choki Danceplay_arrow
A fun hand-play song danced with a scissor pose
64eastVegetable Song
Vegetable Songplay_arrow
Enjoy food education while playing with the vegetable song
65eastIce Cream Song
Ice Cream Songplay_arrow
A fun song with an ice cream theme
66eastThere’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 song to cheer up children who are afraid of ghosts
67eastLittle Errand Ant
Little Errand Antplay_arrow
The little errand ant is a beloved children’s song.
68eastGhost Fireworks Ondo
Ghost Fireworks Ondoplay_arrow
Ghost Fireworks Ondo, a fun, Japanese-style song
69eastThere’s no such thing as ghosts.
There’s no such thing as ghosts.play_arrow
I can sing “There Are No Ghosts”
70eastcarp streamer
carp streamerplay_arrow
Koinobori is a popular song that has been sung since 1931.
71eastWatermelon-producing region
Watermelon-producing regionplay_arrow
The folk song “Suika no Meisan-chi” is a Western-style song with an original tune.
72eastNumber Song
Number Songplay_arrow
A fun song for remembering numbers
73eastSome kind of yokai?
Some kind of yokai?play_arrow
A yokai dance song to enjoy the Halloween vibe
74eastMysterious Pocket
Mysterious Pocketplay_arrow
Biscuits increase from my pocket
75eastHaw, the Lost Ghost
Haw, the Lost Ghostplay_arrow
A fun call-and-response song about ghosts
76eastsoap bubble
soap bubbleplay_arrow
Shabon-dama is a masterpiece that expresses the transience of life.
77east100% Courage
100% Courageplay_arrow
The famous song from the anime “Nintama Rantarō.”
78eastKing Kamehameha of the Southern Islands
King Kamehameha of the Southern Islandsplay_arrow
The Charm of King Hamehameha of the Southern Island
79eastUnder the big chestnut tree
Under the big chestnut treeplay_arrow
A song about playing under the chestnut tree. Nostalgic, and a hit at karaoke.
80eastTo the Sun in the Palm of Your Hand
To the Sun in the Palm of Your Handplay_arrow
A lively children's song with lyrics by Takashi Yanase
81eastSpring has come.
Spring has come.play_arrow
“Haru ga Kita” is a children’s song that has been sung for over a hundred years.
82eastThe Bear of the Forest
The Bear of the Forestplay_arrow
The Bear of the Forest gets the crowd going at karaoke.
83eastDog Policeman
Dog Policemanplay_arrow
The Strangeness of the Lyrics of “The Dog Policeman”
84eastDancing Rockin’ Monster
Dancing Rockin' Monsterplay_arrow
Dance videos are popular, and the track is a banger!
85eastSong of Suihei-sanSuper Simple Songs
Song of Suihei-sanSuper Simple Songsplay_arrow
A fun song featuring lots of sea creatures
86eastDoraemon: Make My Dreams Come Truemao
Doraemon: Make My Dreams Come Truemaoplay_arrow
Among the Doraemon theme songs you know, the newer one...
87eastHEROmomokurochan Z
HEROmomokurochan Zplay_arrow
Shimajiro the Movie: Shimajiro and Ururu's Hi...
88eastSun Sun Exercisedoriimingu
Sun Sun Exercisedoriiminguplay_arrow
It’ll make you want to start dancing with your kids right away…
89eastHAPPY SONG
HAPPY SONGplay_arrow
From the song with lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa and music by Yuko Masuda...
90eastLet’s smile tomorrow.
Let's smile tomorrow.play_arrow
Lyrics by Shigeo Takahashi, composed by Sukima Switch...
91eastIn a flash!
In a flash!play_arrow
Lyrics and composition: This is a song by Tortoise Matsumoto. NHK educa…
92eastBeing human is nice
Being human is niceplay_arrow
It’s a song with lyrics by Akari Yamaguchi and music by Asei Kobayashi…
93eastYokai Shiritori
Yokai Shiritoriplay_arrow
Lyrics by Okuhara Yume, music by Tane Tomoko, “O…”
94eastOfurosuki Counting Song
Ofurosuki Counting Songplay_arrow
A song written and composed by Kensaku Kobayashi, from a children's program...
95eastWhere is this mushroom?
Where is this mushroom?play_arrow
Lyrics by Morichiyoko, composed by Sacha Torte, and...
96eastTomatotto…? Chili pepper — a vegetable shiritori
Tomatotto...? Chili pepper — a vegetable shiritoriplay_arrow
This song is the theme music for the TV progra… broadcast on NHK.
97eastGood Morning Song
Good Morning Songplay_arrow
As a morning greeting song at daycare centers and kindergartens...
98eastToy Cha-Cha-Cha
Toy Cha-Cha-Chaplay_arrow
"Toy Cha-Cha-Cha" is a difficult children's song.
99eastaye-aye
aye-ayeplay_arrow
Ai Ai is a beloved children's song.
100eastWhat shall we make with rock, scissors, paper?
What shall we make with rock, scissors, paper?play_arrow
A choreographed song that both adults and children can enjoy