Japanese counting songs: nostalgic temari (handball) songs and children’s folk songs
A “counting song” is, literally, a song or poem (including waka) about counting.
In Japan, they have long been beloved, and there are many famous tunes that everyone—young and old—has heard at least once, such as in children’s songs.
This article spotlights “counting songs,” which are important to Japanese people, introducing a variety of types—from well-known classics that everyone knows to anime songs and popular tunes that follow the counting-song format.
Enjoy them with children, use them as background music for playtime—please experience the charm of counting songs!
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- [Warabe-uta] Beloved Classic Songs Passed Down Through Generations
- A song themed around the Japanese vowels (a, i, u, e, o)
- Snake Song: Children's song, nursery rhyme, and hand-play song
- Actually scary nursery rhymes. Children's songs that give you the chills once you understand their meaning
- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
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- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- [Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
- A song that makes learning the times tables fun
- Lullabies: children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Nostalgic songs for putting children to sleep.
- Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
Japanese counting songs: Nostalgic handball and children's songs (21–30)
Tailed Beast Counting Songuzumaki naruto
An upbeat, chant-style counting song that was broadcast as an insert track in the anime adaptation of the popular manga NARUTO, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.
The lyrics list the traits of the tailed beasts (bijū), characters appearing in the series, and became a hot topic on the internet.
Kanazawa Counting SongKaganotōnzu
Among local-themed counting songs, “Kanazawa Kazoewuta,” which strings together Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture’s famous sights and specialty products in a counting song, is a masterpiece.
It is performed by Kaganotones, an a cappella group active mainly in Ishikawa Prefecture, and is available on their official YouTube channel.
Japanese counting songs: Nostalgic temari songs and children's songs (31–40)
One, two, three, four, two, five
This traditional children’s song, beloved across generations, features a simple way to play: sing rhythmic number phrases while raising and bending your fingers.
It has been featured on NHK’s children’s program Nihongo de Asobo and is popular on video-sharing sites.
The piece has been carried forward in new forms by contemporary artists such as dmg’s “Ichi Ni San Shi” and Gen Hoshino’s “Ichi Ni San.” It’s a fun song you can enjoy with parents or friends while nurturing finger dexterity and a sense of rhythm.
Itinerant Sideshow Counting SongTakehara Pisutoru
A song by Pistil Takehara, a musician who sings from the soul, mainly performed at live shows.
He turns it into a counting song with a vocal style of overwhelming power, likening the way the six strings of a guitar snap one by one to his own life as a musician who keeps touring the provinces.
Ryūdō-gumi Counting SongRyūdō-gumi
Formed in 1985 under the leadership of Ryudo Uzaki, with a concept of mixing Western music and rock with Japanese elements.
Included on their debut album “Ryudo-gumi,” released the same year.
The counting song, sung passionately to a rock rhythm and interwoven with English, features lyrics by Uzaki’s wife, Yoko Aki.
Counting Song of HappinessTokoro Jōji
Included on the 1997 album “20th Anniversary Canniversary.” Though it turns everyday happiness into a counting song, it’s relentlessly light and up-tempo, sometimes speaking of “happiness” with an almost excessive nonchalance.
One of Tokoro’s hidden gems.
Hanshin Tigers Counting SongDōjō Yōzō
The Hanshin Tigers, who won the championship in 1985 for the first time in 21 years, also released a counting song that year.
However, instead of the usual “1, 2, 3…” sequence, it had the unusual twist of listing the players’ uniform numbers in batting order—“7, 1, 44, 31…”.