Lullabies: children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Nostalgic songs for putting children to sleep.
Lullabies have existed since ancient times in every country—they’re songs for soothing children.
I’ve put together a list of many lullabies, from the kind you might have heard on NHK’s educational channel to arrangements of foreign folk songs.
I’m sure there are songs in here that you sang together with friends when you were a child.
If you listen again now with the mindset of returning to childhood, you might discover something new.
If you “struggle every time to put your child to sleep,” please try listening—and singing—these songs to them at least once.
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Lullabies: Children's Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes — Nostalgic Bedtime Songs (41–50)
Takeda Lullaby
This is a lullaby that was passed down in a marginalized (burakumin) community located in what is now Kyoto Prefecture.
Although it was performed by folk groups and singers such as Red Bird, it was banned from broadcast for a long time, and only fairly recently began to be featured on radio and television.
Perhaps for that reason, the song’s lyrics themselves have been significantly altered from the original.
Go to sleep now.
This is a lullaby passed down since old times in Bungo, Oita Prefecture.
It is sung to a baby who wakes up before dawn and has trouble falling back asleep.
The lyrics mean, “Go to sleep; it’s not morning yet… When morning comes, the temple bell will ring.”
Old Man with a BeardSakushi: Fushō / Sakkyoku: Tamayama Hidenobu
Many of you probably remember singing it loudly together while twirling your hands in front of your face to make a beard.
This hand-play song features simple, easy-to-remember melodies and fun hand movements for various characters like Grandpa with a Beard and Hunchbacked Grandpa.
Beloved for many years in kindergartens and nurseries, it even saw multiple recorded versions released by different artists in 2021 and 2022.
It’s a perfect song for parents and children to sing and play together, nurturing finger dexterity and a sense of rhythm.
Banana Parent and ChildSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako
This heartwarming work by Kazuo Seki and Wakako Fukuda comically portrays the adorable everyday life of the Banana family living on a southern island.
The repeated phrases woven from the sounds of each family member’s name create a catchy rhythm that even small children will naturally hum along to.
First aired in 1982 on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” it has continued to be loved in many households.
It’s also included on the album “Okaasan to Issho Memorial Album,” making it perfect for parents and children to sing together! How about spending a cozy time with everyone while feeling the bonds of family?
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.
Iwaya’s Lullaby
The lullaby “Iwaya no Komoriuta” is a babysitter’s song from the former village of Iwaya in Akita Prefecture.
It is known as a traditional lullaby from Iwaya Village, which corresponds to present-day Yurihonjō City, Akita.
The lyrics are heavily accented in the Akita dialect, making them difficult to translate.
The content is quite sorrowful, in the style of a lament typical of lullabies from that era.
From the lyrics, you can tell it was created by young nursemaids who had come to serve, and it conveys the sentiment of wanting to quit this work altogether.
Daikoku-sama
The Shizuoka folk song Daikokusama has been passed down in Shizuoka Prefecture as a ball-bouncing song, and its lyrics—modeled after Daikokusama, the god of good fortune—form a counting song from one to ten.
It’s an extremely lively tune that conjures up images of children from that time bouncing balls to the rhythm.
It’s also considered very auspicious, and the lyrics themselves leave a pleasant feeling as they express gratitude for the deeds of the god of fortune.
In Shizuoka, some people say they heard this song from their grandfathers, and it remains a deeply rooted lullaby.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced a variety of lullabies. What did you think? Listening to all these different lullabies really makes you realize that people have always struggled to get children to sleep. I hope you find at least one song that helps your child drift off comfortably.