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.
Playlist
| Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Snow KobōzuSakushi: Murayama Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Fushō | play_arrow | A song about little snow monks falling from the sky and turning into water. It can be sung with different poses. |
| 2east | New Year (Japanese New Year)Sakushi: Azuma Kume / Sakkyoku: Taki Rentaro | play_arrow | A children's song eagerly awaiting the New Year |
| 3east | peta peta pettanko | play_arrow | A hand-play song with a mochi-pounding theme is hugely popular with children |
| 4east | Kantarō the North Wind KidSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako | play_arrow | Enka-style children's winter song “Kantarō” is popular |
| 5east | The Song of the Twelve Zodiac Animals | play_arrow | An introduction to a child-friendly song that sings the twelve zodiac signs to a catchy rhythm. |
| 6east | little foxsakushi: Katsu Tsuguo / sakkyoku: Doitsu min’yō | play_arrow | Song of the Little Fox, a beloved classic among children |
| 7east | The Snow PainterSakushi: Noritake Akihiko / Sakkyoku: Ando Takashi | play_arrow | A gentle song that paints the world white with snow |
| 8east | Great Cold, Little Coldwarabeuta | play_arrow | A heartwarming song from a winter children’s folk song |
| 9east | January 1stSakushi: Senke Sonpuku / Sakkyoku: Ue Shingyō | play_arrow | New Year's staple songs, tunes that resonate with the heart |
| 10east | Ticotin, the winter fairySakushi / Sakkyoku: Suzuki Tsubasa | play_arrow | Songs that parents and children can enjoy together in the cold season |
| 11east | fluffy snowteasobi | play_arrow | Enjoy winter to the fullest with fun snowy hand-play songs! |
| 12east | snowSakushi: Mukasa San / Sakkyoku: Fushou | play_arrow | A children’s song depicting falling snow |
| 13east | little snow monkSakushi: Murayama Toshiko | A fun hand-play song that personifies snow | |
| 14east | TroikaRoshia min’yō | play_arrow | A cheerful folk song that briskly runs through a snowy landscape |
| 15east | The wind and the snow are my friends.sakushi: kobayashi jun’ichi / sakkyoku: neruson & rorinz | play_arrow | A heartwarming song that celebrates wintertime fun |
| 16east | Cha-Cha-Cha of the SnowmanSakushi / Sakkyoku: Tajiga Akira | play_arrow | Mini Story of Cha-cha-cha and the Snowman |
| 17east | bonfireSakushi: Tatsumi Seika / Sakkyoku: Watanabe Shigeru | play_arrow | A masterpiece that depicts a bonfire scene and the warmth of winter |
| 18east | snowSakushi: Mukasa San / Sakkyoku: Fushou | play_arrow | Fun in the snow! Expressing winter with hand-play songs |
| 19east | Nazuna Nanakusawarabeuta | play_arrow | Traditional songs and customs related to the spring seven-herb rice porridge |
| 20east | Mr./Ms. North Windsakushi: kowase tamami / sakkyoku: nakata yoshinao | play_arrow | A masterpiece whose song of the north wind enchants children |
| 21east | Spring SeaSakushi: Shimoji Yuuki / Sakkyoku: Miyagi Michio | play_arrow | Miyagi Michio’s “Haru no Umi,” which symbolizes the New Year |
| 22east | mochi poundingSakushi: Amano Chou / Sakkyoku: Ichinomiya Michiko | play_arrow | Let's pound mochi with a hand play song. |
| 23east | When it becomes a festive time, it’s New YearSakushi / Sakkyoku: Aramaki Shake | play_arrow | A simple New Year’s hand-play song game where you represent osechi dishes with poses. |
| 24east | Children are like the wind.Sakushi/Sakkyoku: Jidō Shōka | play_arrow | A child playing outside energetically despite the cold |
| 25east | [Finger-play song] Mochi GlassesSakushi / Sakkyoku: Fushou | play_arrow | Classic New Year mochi dishes and hand-play songs |
| 26east | The Song of KonkonshyanSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira | ![]() | A cute song by animals wearing masks |
| 27east | Snow and ChildrenSakushi: Komori Jun’ichi / Sakkyoku: Noruwē min’yō | play_arrow | A melancholy nursery rhyme that loves the snow of Scandinavia |
| 28east | A Morning of Steamsakushi: mado michio / sakkyoku: noritake akihiko | play_arrow | A cold winter breath, white like a steam locomotive |
| 29east | Mount FujiSakushi: Iwaya Kanao / Sakkyoku: Fushō | play_arrow | Let's sing a song about Mt. Fuji for New Year's |
| 30east | The Spinning SongSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko/Shokyoku: Komori Akihiro | play_arrow | A fun hand-play song about making shoes |
| 31east | Powdery snow konkoSakushi: Iijima Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Hirao Kishio | play_arrow | A winter tradition: the nostalgic music of the kerosene truck |
| 32east | I look forward to your continued support this year as well.Sakushi / Sakkyoku: Aramaki Shake | play_arrow | A hand-clapping song video in the style of a New Year’s card featuring salted salmon (Aramaki-jake) |
| 33east | Octopus SongSakushi/Sakkyoku: Monbushō Shōka | play_arrow | The charm of kite flying to wish for children’s growth |
| 34east | Snow Festivalsakushi/sakkyoku: minami ranbou | play_arrow | Minami Ranbō's nostalgic classic song |
| 35east | winter songSakushi: Nakayama Tomoko / Sakkyoku: Furisto Nejyarukofu | play_arrow | A cheerful folk song about a sled gliding over a snowy field |
| 36east | Even Kaze-san.Sakushi: Shibayama Kaoru / Sakkyoku: Satō Hachirō | play_arrow | A gentle nursery rhyme that makes you feel the presence of the wind |
| 37east | Light of FirefliesSakushi: Inagaki Chisaki / Sakkyoku: Sukottorando min’yō | play_arrow | Hotaru no Hikari is a staple song for graduation ceremonies. |
| 38east | Winter ConstellationSakushi: Horiuchi Keizō / Sakkyoku: Heisu | play_arrow | Winter Constellations, a Beautiful Japanese-Language Translated Song |
| 39east | hometownSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi | play_arrow | 'Furusato' is a beautiful traditional Japanese classic song. |
| 40east | A Town Where It SnowsSakushi: Uchimura Naoya / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao | play_arrow | The town where snow falls, a classic winter song |
| 41east | Snowball fightSakushi / Sakkyoku: Fushou | play_arrow | Depicting the earnest play of a children’s snowball fight |
| 42east | [Hand Play Song] Nikuman Anman | play_arrow | Introduction to the hand play song of Nikuman and Anman |
| 43east | [Hand-play song] Konkon Kitsune | play_arrow | Winter hand-play song 'Konkon Fox' |
| 44east | frost pillarsSakushi: Noguchi Ujo / Sakkyoku: Motoori Nagayo | play_arrow | A child happily steps on winter frost heaves (needle ice). |
| 45east | Come, springSakushi: Soma Gyofu / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryutaro | play_arrow | Ryutaro Hirota’s spring song, a heart-stirring masterpiece |
| 46east | The Song of the Twelve Zodiac Animalssakushi sakkyoku/miyahira rie | play_arrow | A fun song featuring the animals of the Chinese zodiac |
| 47east | Winter nightSakushi/Sakkyoku: Monbushō Shōka | play_arrow | A snowy night, a family gathered around the irori hearth |
| 48east | KodANUKI PonpoShimojō Atomu | play_arrow | The heartwarming nursery rhyme of Ponpo the little tanuki |
| 49east | Goat MailSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma | play_arrow | A nursery rhyme about a paper-loving goat that eats letters |
| 50east | pine coneSakushi: Hirota Takao / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Tsuyae | play_arrow | Let’s have fun moving our bodies with the pine cone hand play song |
| 51east | White RoadSakushi: Unno Yoji / Sakkyoku: Antonio Vivarudi | play_arrow | Vivaldi concertos with lyrics |


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