Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
When you hear “songs for January,” what kinds of tunes come to mind?
There are many, from those often sung in childcare settings and schools to classic pieces that have been loved in Japan for many years.
Here, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes and hand-play songs that you’ll want to enjoy with children in January.
Everyone has different experiences with the songs they’ve grown up with, so try talking about them with your family and friends.
You might even come across some songs for the first time.
These are all songs that can be enjoyed across generations and that we’d love to pass on to the children who will shape the next generation.
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[January Songs] Nursery Rhymes and Finger-Play Songs for Children to Enjoy (11–20)
The wind and the snow are my friends.sakushi: kobayashi jun’ichi / sakkyoku: neruson & rorinz
Packed with the joys of winter, this song delights with lyrics that tickle children’s playful spirits.
It likens the wind and snow to friends and portrays the fun of flying kites and having snowball fights.
Broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” starting in December 1961, it has long been loved by many.
Various artists, including Junko Uchida and Yuko Kanzaki, have covered it.
Even children who aren’t fond of playing outside in the cold might find outdoor fun more appealing after hearing this tune.
It’s a perfect song for creating winter memories that the whole family can sing together.
Cha-Cha-Cha of the SnowmanSakushi / Sakkyoku: Tajiga Akira
When I hear “cha-cha-cha,” the first thing that comes to mind is the children’s song ‘Omocha no Cha Cha Cha,’ and if we’re talking pop songs, Akemi Ishii’s smash hit ‘CHA-CHA-CHA.’ Cha-cha-cha is a rhythm and dance of Cuban origin, so pairing it with an unmoving snowman is a delightfully mismatched and amusing combination.
The mini-story-like lyrics—‘It started snowing, so I made a snowman, and then the snowman began to dance’—are fun, too.
It’s a song that makes you want to tap castanets or a tambourine to the cha-cha-cha rhythm.
bonfireSakushi: Tatsumi Seika / Sakkyoku: Watanabe Shigeru
Characterized by vivid scenes that evoke the chill of winter, this song depicts the warm interactions of people gathered around a bonfire, and its lyrics are filled with many winter traditions.
First broadcast in December 1941 on NHK’s radio program “Time for Young Children,” it has since been widely loved in kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary schools.
From 1952, it was also included in first-grade music textbooks, making it a classic cherished across generations.
It’s the perfect song to sing with family and friends during the cold season when you want to feel warm at heart.
snowSakushi: Mukasa San / Sakkyoku: Fushou
Winter really makes you want to have fun playing in the snow, doesn’t it? Let’s sing the children’s song “Yuki” and add hand motions to make that feeling grow even more! Flutter your hands to show the snow falling more and more, or clap along to the rhythm.
You can freely express how the snow is falling! You could also act out a dog happily playing, or a cat curled up inside the kotatsu.
Try playing while thinking, “How about this movement? What about that one?”
Nazuna Nanakusawarabeuta
It’s a traditional folk song/children’s song that has been sung since long ago when cooking the seven herbs of spring.
The seven herbs are seri (water dropwort), nazuna (shepherd’s purse), gogyo (cudweed), hakobera (chickweed), hotokenoza (henbit), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (daikon radish).
These seven herbs are prepped on the evening of January 6 and then added to rice porridge the next morning to make nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb porridge).
You may see nanakusa-gayu served in school lunches or enjoyed at home.
When learning about the seven herbs with children, it’s also recommended to learn this song together.
Mr./Ms. North Windsakushi: kowase tamami / sakkyoku: nakata yoshinao
A song that gently personifies the winter wind is full of charm that makes it easy for children to connect with.
The lyrics, which liken the sound of the north wind to a violin and a whistle, are striking and evoke the beauty of winter’s nature.
Created by Tamami Kowase and Yoshinao Nakata, this piece is a popular children’s song often sung in kindergartens and nursery schools.
Its warm atmosphere, which can make hearts feel cozy even in the cold season, is appealing, and it’s a lovely song that helps children sense the changing seasons.
If you sing it together as a family, you’re sure to have a wonderful time!
[January Songs] Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to become familiar with (21–30)
Masterpieces to listen to in January.
Were there any songs you found yourself wanting to listen to in January? In fact, there are still plenty more I want you to hear! From here, I’ll introduce a collection of children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes that I haven’t had the chance to feature yet. They’re all timeless classics that have been passed down through the years.
Spring SeaSakushi: Shimoji Yuuki / Sakkyoku: Miyagi Michio
The duet for koto and shakuhachi composed by Michio Miyagi is widely cherished as a piece that symbolizes the Japanese New Year.
Inspired by the serene scenery of the Seto Inland Sea, the work expresses the tranquility and beauty of the spring sea.
It was recorded in November 1932 in collaboration with a French violinist and received high acclaim abroad.
The piece is often used as New Year’s background music on television, radio, and in commercial facilities.
Evoking Japan’s natural beauty and seasonal changes, it is recommended for those who wish to spend a quiet, peaceful time.