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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 Shoka] Carefully Selected Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations (1–10)
Counting Song
A traditional Japanese counting song that has long been sung in schools as a Ministry of Education song.
Included in the July 1910 volume of “Songs for the Elementary School Reader,” this piece teaches children virtues such as loyalty, filial piety, harmony among siblings, friendship, and sincerity while counting numbers.
It adapts melodies of children’s folk songs passed down in various regions into educational material; Naoaki Fukui prepared the accompaniment score and arranged it to be easy to sing in school settings.
In 1997, it was also included on the album “Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka: Third Grade,” performed by the Suginami Children’s Choir.
Village Festival
A classic song that sings of autumn’s bounty and gratitude to the gods, evoking Japan’s quintessential pastoral scenery.
The lyrics vividly conjure a lively festival scene—you can almost hear the flutes and drums—which is a big part of its charm.
First published in March 1912 in “Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka: For Third-Year Students,” it has been beloved for generations.
Passed down in performances by artists like Saori Yuki and Shoko Yasuda, it remains a staple autumn song today.
With its playful, rhythmic onomatopoeia, this piece is perfect for savoring the exhilaration of a festival!
A Hazy Moonlit NightSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi
A celebrated Japanese classic that has been loved across generations since its release in 1914.
The first verse depicts the gradual fall of dusk, while the second portrays a night scene illuminated by a hazy moon.
Its melody evokes the tranquil, quintessential scenery of Japan—something that likely stirs a sense of nostalgia in every Japanese person.
autumn leaves (momiji)Sakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi
It is a gentle Japanese classic that evokes the feeling of autumn.
It has been included in elementary school textbooks since 1951 and was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs” in 2006.
The comparison of various colored leaves scattered on the water, illuminated by the autumn sunset, beautifully expresses the essence of autumn as if looking at a painting.
We Look Up to You with Respect
Published in 1884 and selected in 2007 for the “100 Best Japanese Songs,” it expresses students’ gratitude to their teachers and memories of school life, and continues to be loved as a classic graduation song.
Why not take this opportunity to savor once again the distinctly Japanese flavor conveyed by its classical language?
Spring has come.
Published in 1910 and selected in 2007 as one of the “100 Japanese Songs,” this piece is easy to remember and familiar, repeating the phrase “~has come” in the first verse, “~bloom” in the second verse, and “~sing” in the third.
When you think of spring songs, isn’t this the one that comes to mind first for many people?
chick
Written for first-grade elementary school students, this song teaches the importance of siblings getting along and acting as a group.
Included in “Elementary School Songs for the First Grade,” compiled by the Ministry of Education and published in May 1911, the piece conveys a message that young children still need adult protection and bonds with their peers, illustrated through little chicks walking together and helping one another under their parent bird.
With a bright, easy-to-sing melody and a meter that matches a walking rhythm, its warm imagery offers a comforting sense of security.