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!

Playlist

Japanese counting songs: nostalgic temari (handball) songs and children’s folk songs
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Hitotsu Toya, New Year’s Song		Japanese counting songs, a treasure trove of traditional culture
2	counting songIkeda Ayako		A heartwarming song that conveys cross-cultural understanding through music
3	The very first is Ichinomiya.Konsei Gasshoudan VoxMEA		A moving choral piece where tradition and modernity converge
4	counting songpoppu shinanai de		A fun song for children to learn numbers
5	Even with just one, it’s a carrot.nagira kenichi		The B-side track of “Swim! Taiyaki-kun”
6	I sowed one gō’s worth (of seed).		A Bon Odori song from Kagawa, a folk song praying for a bountiful rice harvest
7	Pokémon counting songKanazawa Akiko		Pokémon joyfully dancing to a counting song
8	fig carrot		Children’s songs let you enjoy learning through counting rhymes.
9	1975 Carp’s First Championship / Players Counting SongHiroshima Toyo Kāpu Senshu		Fight song released in the year of the Carp’s first championship
10	Chū chū, are you an octopus?		A traditional song that represents the number 2 with the counting word 'chū'
11	A Bath Counting SongChikura Hito		The bath song, a memorable classic for children
12	One crow		Jump-rope songs: conveying rhythm and learning
13	Popular Song Counting RhymeEnomoto Ken’ichi · Takechi Toyoko		Counting Song by Enoken and Toyoko Takechi
14	University Counting SongMoriya Hiroshi		Hiroshi Moriya’s classic song satirizing college life
15	Song for Counting ChangedKawada Yoshio to Miruku Burazāsu		A solo song by Yoshio Kawada, inspired by his surname
16	People’s Rights Counting SongTsuchitori Toshiyuki		A song that set the Freedom and People's Rights Movement of the Meiji era to music
17	Counting Song		A traditional Japanese counting song, a song for learning
18	Let’s count and danceSuper Simple Nihongo		A children's song that makes learning numbers fun
19	Daichan Counting SongYoshida Yoshimi		Depicting Daichan’s growth through Yoshimi Tendo’s counting song
20	Hiyono Mountain Counting Songoyakata oorusutāzu		A lively song that conveys the appeal of professional sumo
21	Kamen Rider Counting SongShimono Masato, Koronbia Yurikago-kai		Kamen Rider insert song, a masterpiece that fuses numbers and monsters
22	Cadet School Counting Songkaigun heigakkou		A counting song whose lyrics describe military life, sung at the Etajima Naval Academy.
23	The Bald SongHatsune Miku		A unique counting song specialized in baldness
24	rivalry between a weasel and a raccoon dogKurihara Masami		Lyrics from 'Itachi' to 'Ichi'
25	The Irresponsible Counting SongUeki Hitoshi		A signature song by Hitoshi Ueki, a unique counting song
26	Counting song of partingKatō Tokiko		Tokiko Kato’s poetic songs of the 1970s
27	Multiply by one, multiply by twoHello at the theater troupe		Established as a traditional nursery rhyme and children's play song
28	Uwajima Counting SongYoshiyama Miki & Daba Misa		The charms of Uwajima resonate through three local specialties
29	Tailed Beast Counting Songuzumaki naruto		An insert song that counts the tailed beasts in Naruto
30	Kanazawa Counting SongKaganotōnzu		Expressing Kanazawa’s charms in a counting song
31	Hanshin Tigers Counting SongDōjō Yōzō		Hanshin Tigers’ original jersey number counting song
32	Yosahoi Bushiozashiki uta		A spring song born from enka, a masterpiece banned from broadcast
33	One, two, three, four, two, five		A traditional counting nursery rhyme enjoyed with finger play
34	Itinerant Sideshow Counting SongTakehara Pisutoru		Takahara Pistol’s soul-stirring songs and life
35	Ryūdō-gumi Counting SongRyūdō-gumi		Ryudo Uzaki and the Rock-Style Japanese Suite Band
36	Counting Song of HappinessTokoro Jōji		Tokoro-san’s classic that cheerfully sings about happiness
37	Uchinaaguchi Counting Song: Big Okinawaaimoko		Okinawan husband-and-wife musicians gain popularity with counting songs
38	Wktk Counting SongNakano Fujo Shisutāzu		An otaku-style idol unit, Nakano Fujoshi Sisters