[Japanese Children's Songs] Carefully selected timeless masterpieces loved across generations!
Japanese shoka—songs everyone has hummed at least once—include classics like “Furusato,” “Haru no Ogawa,” and “Momiji.” The nostalgic melodies we learned in music class or sang with friends in childhood stay with us no matter how much time passes.
These works, which sing of seasonal landscapes and everyday scenes, are filled with the sensibilities of the Japanese people.
In this article, we introduce a selection of shoka that have been sung across generations.
Just seeing the titles will make you want to start singing—be sure to check out these beloved Japanese classics.
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[Japanese School Songs] A Selection of Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations (31–40)
Momotaro
It was released in 1911.
The lyricist is unknown.
The lyrics recount the old folktale of Momotaro.
With its cheerful and easy-to-remember melody and a story-like lyric that thrillingly ends with the defeat of the ogres, the song has long been beloved.
Ride a hot air balloon to the ends of the earthSumida Shonen Shojo Gasshodan
The lyrics are by Tatsuo Azuma and the music is by Koku Hiyoshi.
It is a two-part choral piece and was the set piece for the elementary school division of the 1974 NHK National School Music Competition.
The song conveys a grand sense of scale, as if soaring through the sky in a hot-air balloon, and the first verse includes hand claps, making it rhythmic and fun to sing.
The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomKawada Masako
It’s said to be inspired by Shizuoka’s mandarin orange orchards, and it conjures a beautiful scene of looking out over the sea and ships from a hill.
But this song also features a departed mother, which gives it a deep emotional resonance.
Since it was written right after the war, I wonder if that’s the influence of the war.
Even in such a beautiful song, there is a lingering sadness.
The Mountain Hut’s LightŌmi Toshirō
The orthodox vocal style is pleasant to listen to.
I heard that Mount Hotaka is the motif, and I was surprised to realize the setting is at quite a high altitude.
Perhaps because of that, the faintly glowing lights in the quiet, crystalline air are beautiful, as if symbolizing a pure first love.
Omi-san’s clear voice suits it perfectly.
sand hillAtsumi Kiyoshi
When you mention Atsumi-san, I can’t help but think of Tora-san, so it feels like Tora-san is traveling, coming near Sado, and gazing out at the sea.
There’s a sense of loneliness, like being the only one left after everyone has gone home on a rough sea.
The plain, unaffected singing is deeply moving and somehow melancholy.
[Japanese Shoka] Carefully Selected Masterpieces Loved Across Generations (41–50)
Mount Fuji
It was released in 1911.
In 2007, it was also selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” It is sometimes referred to by the title “Fujisan.” Widely loved as a song that praises the grandeur of Mount Fuji, it is used as station melodies and chimes in Shizuoka.
Ballad of the MonstersSumida Shonen Shojo Gasshodan
Released in 1972, with lyrics by Fumiko Okada and music by Osamu Shoji.
The lyrics are cute yet fast-paced, and as a choral piece it’s quite substantial.
It was originally released as a song by the group Young 101, but it has since been arranged in various versions and is now often sung in elementary schools and elsewhere.