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 Hand-Clapping Songs We Want Children to Enjoy (41–50)
A Town Where It SnowsSakushi: Uchimura Naoya / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao
When it comes to winter traditions, “Yuki no Furu Machi o” (A Snowy Town) beautifully depicts a cityscape blanketed in snow.
This song has been covered by many singers, and among them, the version performed by actress-singer Chieko Baisho is especially beloved.
Set against the snowy scenery of Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture, the piece evokes the spirit of the season.
Its melody is easy to remember, making it fun to sing along with children, which is why it’s cherished in many households as a winter song.
Though the season is cold, let this song warm both your heart and body.
Be sure to sing it together with your children and create wonderful winter memories.
KodANUKI PonpoShimojō Atomu
The children’s song “Kodanuki Pompo,” with its uniquely pleasant sense of rhythm, has been airing on NHK’s Minna no Uta since 1983, so some of you may have heard it.
Listen closely to the poignant lyrics about Kodanuki Pompo faithfully waiting for the girl who lent him her red gloves last winter.
The steady, even rhythm flows comfortably into your body, and together with the gentle, deeply expressive melody, it’s sure to strengthen the bond between parents and children.
Snowball fightSakushi / Sakkyoku: Fushou
Speaking of the cold winter season, there are times when snow piles up.
This song depicts children enjoying a classic winter pastime: a snowball fight.
The sky is clear, and the scene shows a landscape blanketed in snow; after that, the lyrics focus on the snowball fight itself.
What stands out is the use of vivid, intense language to portray the heated battle, conveying how seriously the children are engaged.
It also feels like a reminder that it’s important to throw yourself wholeheartedly into play as well.
Goat MailSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
The children’s song “Yagi-san Yubin” has long been loved.
Its charm lies in the humorous lyrics about goats who love paper so much that, whenever a letter arrives, they eat it right away and can never read it.
It’s fun to sing together as a parent and child, and it would be even more exciting to add gestures that follow the lyrics while you sing.
Try getting into the goats’ mindset and enjoy the song’s humor-filled words.
It’s a piece we’d like to keep singing and passing down across generations.
pine coneSakushi: Hirota Takao / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Tsuyae
The hand-play song “Matsubokkuri” is characterized by large movements that match the lyrics.
Try expressing the mountain pose with both hands over your head, the motions of rolling your arms in circles like a pinecone tumbling, and a little monkey eating a pinecone! Since it’s a relatively short song, children can learn it quickly and enjoy it.
At the end, when the monkey munches the pinecone, sing out loudly and energetically to make it even more exciting—give it a try!
Come, springSakushi: Soma Gyofu / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryutaro
The composer Ryutaro Hirota is also famous for pieces like “Koinobori” and “Sparrows’ School.” This song was composed in the late Taisho era.
The Mi-chan who appears in the lyrics is said to be modeled after the lyricist Gofu Soma’s eldest daughter.
With its charming melody, it conveys the feeling of not being able to wait for spring to arrive, and it makes the heart dance.
White RoadSakushi: Unno Yoji / Sakkyoku: Antonio Vivarudi
Yoji Kono has written Japanese lyrics for the second movement of Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in F minor “Winter,” RV 297.
It’s a gentle piece that evokes the image of warm spring sunshine and is very pleasant to listen to.