[Warabe-uta] Beloved Classic Songs Passed Down Through Generations

Inside-out pots!

Inside-out Pot, Inside-out Pot [with song] – Children's Song / Hand-Play Song

It’s a children’s hand-holding song game.

In time with the song, players do half turns and end up back-to-back, making sure not to let go of each other’s hands.

Then, following the song, they return to the original position at the end.

It’s fun with pairs, of course, but the larger the group, the more complicatedly everyone gets tangled up, which will likely make the kids even more excited.

Many people will notice that the melody is very similar to Kagome Kagome.

In fact, it’s said that Kagome Kagome and Nabe Nabe Soko Nuke may have been made from the same original song.

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One crow

Japanese nursery rhyme 'One Crow' (Warabe-uta 'Ichi wa no karasu ga')

It is a traditional Japanese children’s song that is also known as a jump-rope rhyme.

Characterized by a simple melody and lyrics that incorporate animal sounds, it is popular in children’s play and educational settings.

By singing while jumping rope, this work also has an educational aspect that helps children enjoyably learn rhythm and the concept of numbers.

In addition to being fun for families, it is a song highly valued in early childhood education and will likely continue to be loved for a long time to come.

Bamboo shoots are sprouting.warabeuta

[KBS Children's Songs] The Bamboo Shoot Sprouted

A traditional Japanese play song that evokes the arrival of spring.

The choreography lets children use their whole bodies: bringing both hands together above the head to show a sprout pushing up from the ground, or spreading their arms wide to mimic a flower in bloom.

It’s also interesting that the way it’s played varies slightly by region.

As children move their hands and bodies to the rhythm, smiles naturally appear—making this familiar warabe-uta a comforting song that eases the anxieties of kids facing new environments.

It’s a perfect piece for nurturing healthy growth and rich emotional development.

Seven Herb Songwarabeuta

[Nanakusa Bayashi / Nanakusa Nazuna / Children's Song] Nanakusa nazuna, good health free from illness, seven-herb porridge.

This is a children’s song about nanakusa-gayu, the rice porridge traditionally eaten around the beginning of spring (Risshun).

The “bird from Tang” mentioned in the lyrics seems to refer to the onidori, a bird said to be an omen of misfortune if it fell on a house where people lived.

It also shows that, for people in the past, birds were seen as harmful creatures that ravaged their fields.

From inside the bamboo grove

From Within the Bamboo Thicket | A Hand Play for Childcare (Ages 4–5)

A simple yet rhythmic melody, combined with hand-play and rock-paper-scissors, makes this an ideal song for nurturing children’s imagination and sense of rhythm.

In educational settings, it also helps improve communication skills, and its appeal spans all ages.

Passed down orally, the piece features subtle regional variations that reflect local character and culture—an interesting point in itself.

It is widely used in nursery schools and kindergartens and is beloved as a staple for hand-play songs and rock-paper-scissors games.

lazyboneswarabeuta

Hamamatsu City: Introducing April's nursery rhymes for rhythmics (Eurhythmics)

The children’s song passed down in Saga Prefecture features horsetail shoots as a theme, heralding the arrival of spring.

The lyrics, which sound as if they’re calling out to the horsetail peeking out from the soil, leave a strong impression.

There are many ways to enjoy it, such as swaying together as a parent and child or playing with cloth.

Reflecting the region’s culture, it’s a precious tradition that has been handed down across generations.

It also encourages contact with springtime nature and may help foster a sense of rhythm and language development.

It’s a lovely nursery rhyme that expresses the wish for children’s healthy growth.

one bamboo shootwarabeuta

One whole bamboo shoot

Perfect for the spring season, this song is a traditional children’s rhyme that has been loved for generations.

Its simple lyrics and the playful format—dividing into an ogre role and a bamboo shoot role—are especially appealing.

Because you move your body while singing, it’s great for developing a sense of rhythm and cooperation.

It’s also used in early childhood education settings, and videos explaining how to play are available.

Sing and play energetically outdoors with family and friends, and you’re sure to enjoy the springtime mood even more.

Why not raise your voices together and feel the arrival of spring?