[Warabe-uta] Beloved Classic Songs Passed Down Through Generations
Nursery rhymes that have been passed down in Japan since long ago.
There are many types of nursery rhymes, including drawing songs, counting songs, and play songs.
Many of you probably sang and played games like Kagome Kagome and Hana Ichi Monme at least once when you were children.
In this article, we introduce popular nursery rhymes.
If you want to remember the nursery rhymes you sang as a child or enjoy them with your kids, be sure to give them a listen!
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[Warabe-uta] Beloved Nostalgic Classics Passed Down in Song (1–10)
Keep crossing the bridge one after another.
A song with simple lyrics and a rhythmic melody, sprinkled with elements that spark excitement and imagination as a fox appears.
It is included in many nursery rhyme collections, and picture books based on this song have also been published.
This piece is used for group play in kindergartens and nursery schools, where activities like holding hands to pass through a gate or cross a bridge help foster children’s cooperation and sense of rhythm.
Please experience this heartwarming song that you can sing and play together with someone special.
Denderaryubawarabeuta
Denderaryūba is a slightly complex and entertaining hand game.
With a mysterious sound that feels like a regional dialect, this piece is a traditional children’s song that has been passed down in Nagasaki Prefecture.
To the chant-like lyrics, you rhythmically change combinations of your knuckles, thumb, and index finger on the palm of your other hand.
Start at a slow pace, and once you can move smoothly, gradually increase the speed.
If you can play it through without mistakes, it’s sure to feel very satisfying.
Pretty good.warabeuta
This is a delightful piece that rhythmically combines movements of the hands and feet with singing.
If you move your hands and feet to the rhythm created by the call-and-response of “naka” (inside) and “soto” (outside), both body and heart naturally start to bounce.
Playing in a circle fosters children’s cooperation and sense of unity, spreading smiles—one of the work’s key charms.
It has long been loved in nurseries and kindergartens across ages, and in April 2020 it was selected for the “Top 100 Traditional Play Activities” by the Japan National Association of Nursery Teachers.
It’s a highly recommended song for those who want to interact with children and enjoy rhythm play.
[Warabe-uta] Beloved nostalgic songs passed down through generations (11–20)
Horsetail shoots are poking up.
A masterpiece of children’s song that lets you feel the breath of nature.
Within its simple wordplay, it deftly weaves in the moment when plants sprout, offering the delight of a stroll through spring fields and hills.
More than lofty musical artistry, it’s the easy singability that has kept it beloved for many years.
It’s also enjoyed with hand motions and is widely used in early childhood education settings.
This work beautifully expresses the Japanese sense of the seasons and a heartfelt reverence for nature, making it enjoyable across generations, from children to adults.
Why not sing it together with family and friends, feeling the arrival of a nature-rich spring?
Churippu sharippuwarabeuta
A simple yet profound traditional children’s song.
The part where everyone stands in a circle and calls each other’s names is perfect for fostering communication skills and social development.
Its rhythmic lyrics and melody are fun and easy to learn.
In nursery schools and kindergartens, it’s often used to help ease the nerves of new children.
At home, singing and playing it together as a family is sure to create joyful moments from infancy onward.
When the spring weather invites you outside, why not gather in a circle and sing it together?
The Full Moon Man’s mochi poundingwarabeuta
One person takes the role of pounding the mochi, and the other kneads it, singing while clapping their hands.
For the kneading role, it’s important to move their hands rhythmically so they don’t get caught and hit by the pounding role’s hands.
Take turns switching roles and have fun.
Two children got into a fight.warabeuta
The children’s favorite warabe-uta “Kodomo to Kodomo ga Kenka Shite” centers on the theme of kids fighting, with comical, friendly lyrics that make it memorable.
The song describes a quarrel that a pharmacist tries to stop but just won’t end, playfully portraying everyday life for children.
As a way to play, it features a distinctive motion of tapping fingers in sequence, so babies through preschoolers can enjoy it.
It’s perfect not only for nursery and kindergarten teachers but also for bonding time with parents.
Singing and playing together as a family makes for wonderful memories.