Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
When we hear the gentle melodies of nostalgic children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes, memories from our early childhood come vividly rushing back, as if we’ve crossed time and space.
Perhaps you, too, have a “song of nostalgia” that has stayed with you since you were young.
In this article, we introduce iconic Japanese children’s songs (shoka), folk songs and nursery rhymes cherished and passed down across the regions, as well as beloved tunes often featured in school performances and recreational activities.
Shall we set off on a heartwarming sonic journey into the world of children’s songs that softly reflect Japan’s seasons, culture, and everyday life?
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[Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes] The Heart of Japan Passed Down in Song (51–60)
Itsuki Lullaby
It’s known as a famous lullaby folk song from Kumamoto Prefecture, but in fact it’s more accurately a protective little song (komori-uta) sung by a girl who looks after children.
Because it’s sung in dialect, people who aren’t from the region may not fully understand it.
The lyrics that begin with “Odoma bongiri” tell a heartrending story of a child, about ten years old, sent out to work as an apprentice, who says they can go home when the Obon festival comes.
Despite this melancholic meaning, the word “bon” made for a catchy sound, and the song was even used in a curry commercial for the sake of the pun.
Red sky at dusk
This melody is still played somewhere even today.
For example, at 5:00 p.m.
in the city it can be the tune signaling children to go home, or it might be used for garbage collection or kerosene peddlers—so for many Japanese people it may be a nostalgic, unforgettable song.
As for me, I just can’t shake the image of that old commercial jingle: “Shūkan ○chō goes on sale tomorrow.”
The monk of the mountain temple
It’s a comical and fun song, but knowing the content now you might think, “What an outrageous monk!” He wants to bounce a ball, but since there’s no ball, he puts a cat in a bag instead—unthinkable, of course.
Still, this is purely an imaginative song: a satirical piece for adults about how funny it would be if such a thing happened, not something monks actually did.
Although monks—being clergy—were roped into it as characters, it ended up becoming an annoying children’s song.
Height comparison
I think quite a few people have measured their height by making marks on a pillar, but due to today’s housing circumstances, we’ve entered an era where making any scratches on a pillar is unthinkable.
This is a song that celebrates a child’s growth for Boys’ Day (Tango no Sekku), but what catches my attention is that it says the older brother measured it “the year before last.” It makes me feel the younger brother’s special joy, since, due to certain circumstances, they couldn’t go back to their parents’ home last year.
Nostalgic Children's Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down in Song (61–70)
The Ball and the Lord
As a child, I would innocently play ball and hum “Ten Ten Tenmari,” never giving a thought to what the song meant.
Reading the lyrics again now, I can’t help but feel they contain quite a deep and cruel side of history.
Since it mentions the lord of Kii, it refers to the feudal lord of Wakayama; in daimyo processions, the peasants’ prostrating postures—often seen in period dramas—clearly show the differences in social status.
In an era when it would have been a grave offense to place something like a ball on the lord’s palanquin, why is this song so carefree? Or am I just overthinking it?
yomogi-jōbu nowarabeuta
An adorable children’s song that brings to mind the smiles of little ones.
The lyrics, which include plant names like iris and mugwort, convey the richness of Japan’s four seasons.
Through the game called “shiritataki” (butt-tapping), it likely expresses a wish for children’s healthy growth.
Passed down in parts of Niigata Prefecture, this song is a valuable piece that preserves local culture and customs.
How about singing and playing it with family and friends in the season when you can feel spring’s arrival? You’re sure to enjoy a warm moment where nostalgia and freshness coexist.
Toy Cha-Cha-ChaSakushi: Nosaka Akiyuki, Yoshioka Osamu / Sakkyoku: Koshibe Nobuyoshi
It’s a children’s song with a toy theme that’s very popular among kids.
One fun aspect of this song is how it sparks the imagination—“What if the toys start marching while we’re asleep?” You can enjoy it in many ways, like clapping along to the ‘cha-cha-cha’ or doing choreography for the whole song.
