Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes about insects

From the choral suite for children “Picture Book of Insects”: “Cranefly”

Insect Picture Book ~ No. 3: “Crane Fly” — Fukuyama YMCA Olivia Choir

This is a piece from a choral suite for children.

The composer is Hiroyuki Yoshioka, who is also known as a conductor and has created many choral works, and the lyrics are by Michio Mado, a poet renowned for children’s songs such as “Zō-san” (Elephant) and “Ichinensei ni Nattara” (When I Become a First Grader).

The suite consists of four songs—“Ladybug,” “Butterfly,” “Crane Fly,” and “Cicada”—and takes nearly 15 minutes to perform in its entirety.

Mushiking Samba!

Mushiking

It’s the ending theme of the anime “Mushiking: The King of Beetles – Legend of the Forest People,” which aired in 2005.

The song is performed by an idol group called Kaori@livedoor PHOENIX, released under an alternate name to match the anime.

It’s an upbeat track with choreography and rap sections that call out the names of the beetles that appear in the show.

Song of the cicada

Children's Song [Song of the Cicada] sung by Satoko Yamano

The lyrics were written by Yoshimi Sato, known for “The Doggy Policeman,” and the music was composed by Yoshinao Nakata, the creator of children’s songs such as “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” and “Medaka no Gakko.” It’s a piece crafted by some of Japan’s leading composers of children’s songs.

Although it was written over 50 years ago, its humorous lyrics keep it from feeling old-fashioned.

red dragonfly

Red Dragonfly | With Lyrics | 100 Selected Japanese Songs | Red Dragonfly of the Evening Glow

It is a representative Japanese children’s song with lyrics by Miki Roppo and music by Yamada Kōsaku.

It was used in 1955 as an insert song in the film “Here Lies a Spring” and again in 1961 as an insert song in the film “Red Dragonfly at Sunset.” It was also featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” It is one of the 100 Selected Japanese Songs.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

[Baby Stops Crying] The Very Hungry Caterpillar Song

This song is based on the 1969 children’s picture book of the same name by American author Eric Carle.

The original lyrics were by the author, but Hisashi Mori, who also translated the picture book into Japanese, provided the Japanese lyrics, and Toshihiko Shinzawa—known for composing songs such as “Sayonara Bokutachi no Yochien”—composed and performed the song.

Japanese beetle

[Children's Song] The Golden Beetle

Its first appearance was in the 1922 magazine Kin no Tō.

The lyricist, Ujō Noguchi, together with Hakushū Kitahara and Yaso Saijō, was celebrated as one of the three great poets of children’s songs.

Among the children’s songs he created in collaboration with composer Shinpei Nakayama are, in addition to this piece, Shabondama (Soap Bubbles), Ano Machi Kono Machi (That Town, This Town), Amefuri Otsukisan (Rainy Moon), and Shōjōji no Tanukibayashi (The Raccoon Dog Parade of Shōjōji).

honey honey honey

Sweet honey, Mitsu Mitsu — Lyrics by Chiyoko Tsuruoka, Music by Yoshinao Nakata — Sweet Honey

This is a children’s song composed by Yoshinao Nakata, famous for pieces like “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” and “Medaka no Gakkō.” The lyricist, Chiyoko Tsuruoka, was a poet also known for writing lyrics for choral works.

There is another song with the same title, with lyrics by Akiko Hirata and composition by Hiroko Masuda.