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)
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.
[Finger-play song] Mochi GlassesSakushi / Sakkyoku: Fushou
![[Finger-play song] Mochi GlassesSakushi / Sakkyoku: Fushou](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AGJ4W9eo8G4/sddefault.jpg)
When it comes to New Year’s in Japan, there are many seasonal traditions like osechi cuisine, New Year’s gift money, fukuwarai, and New Year’s cards, and mochi is definitely one you can’t leave out.
It’s often in ozoni soup, and people pound mochi at the end of the year to eat during the New Year, so it’s strongly associated with the holiday.
“Mochi Glasses” is a hand-clapping song based on mochi pounding.
In it, you tap your thumbs and the other fingers together—pat-pat—one after another as if pounding mochi.
Speeding it up makes it tricky, and even adults can find their fingers getting tangled.
peta peta pettanko
This is a very fun hand-play song themed around mochitsuki, a traditional New Year’s custom.
Children love the motions of pounding and rolling mochi to the rhythmic sounds! It first aired as the “Song of the Month” in April 2004 on NHK E-TV’s “Okaasan to Issho,” with lyrics by Kanako Suzuki and music by Toji Akasaka.
It was also included on the album “Kodomo no Uta Best 25,” released in September 2004.
It uses lots of onomatopoeia and is easy to remember, so even little kids can imitate it right away.
Children are like the wind.Sakushi/Sakkyoku: Jidō Shōka
This is a nursery rhyme about children who energetically run around and play outside, unfazed by the cold wind.
It seems to reflect adults’ wishes for kids to stay active and play outdoors even in the cold winter.
It’s a nursery rhyme that might give you a dose of the children’s energy that blows the cold away.
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!
When it becomes a festive time, it’s New YearSakushi / Sakkyoku: Aramaki Shake
How about trying a New Year’s hand-play song with your child? This hand-play song, “Medetai Nattara Oshogatsu,” expresses essential New Year’s osechi dishes through poses.
The lyrics stay the same, but the dish is represented by the pose you strike at the end.
It features ozoni, kuromame, and kurikinton—osechi dishes kids love—and really boosts the New Year spirit.
Both the song and the poses are very simple, so even young children can imitate them and enjoy playing along.
[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.
mochi poundingSakushi: Amano Chou / Sakkyoku: Ichinomiya Michiko
Mochi eaten in January is delicious, isn’t it? “Mochitsuki” is a song you can use for a hand game.
Two people face each other and, following the lyrics, make mochi-pounding gestures or keep the rhythm by clapping and lightly tapping hands.
It’s a hand game that even small children can do right away, so be sure to try it during the New Year holiday.