[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.

Playlist

[Japanese Children's Songs] Carefully selected timeless masterpieces loved across generations!
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Counting Song		A traditional Japanese counting song, a song for learning
2	Village Festival		A classic Japanese song that sings of the autumn harvest festival.
3	A Hazy Moonlit NightSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi		An emotionally rich Japanese classic song that resonates with the heart.
4	autumn leaves (momiji)Sakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi		A masterpiece that beautifully depicts an autumn scene
5	We Look Up to You with Respect		Songs of gratitude and memories, the heart of our alma mater
6	Spring has come.		Spring Song, selected as one of Japan’s 100 Selected Songs
7	chick		A song that conveys the importance of getting along and helping one another
8	Winter night		A winter ballad of warming by the hearth with family
9	Rain of the Four Seasons		A heartwarming Japanese children’s song depicting the rains of the four seasons
10	The Clock Song		A long-loved children's song that sings the movement of a clock
11	morning glory		A child’s heart that counts the growth of a morning glory
12	The Village Blacksmith		A song that sings of a blacksmith’s pride and the joy of working
13	Koi in the pond		The Appeal of the Ministry of Education’s Meiji-era School Song: “Song of the Carp”
14	The Four Seasons in the Countryside		A song describing the workings of rural life through the four seasons
15	Snowball fight		A school song that sings about children’s snowball fights in winter
16	We are children of the sea.		The history of Japan’s beloved songs as revised after the war
17	snail		The name popularized by the snail nursery song
18	hometownSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi		Hometowns are landscapes of the heart, songs that move people.
19	tea picking		A traditional classic depicting the scene of tea picking
20	koinobori (carp streamers)		A classic song imbued with wishes like carp streamers
21	Summer Memorieshaida shouko		A memorable classic that sings of the beauty of Oze
22	hazy moonlit night		A song depicting a spring dusk scene with a field of rapeseed blossoms and the moon.
23	Ninomiya Kinjiro		The figure and aspiration of a boy devoted to household duties and scholarship
24	Konoha (tree leaves / leaves of a tree)		A song that portrays the journey of fallen leaves carried by the wind
25	Ushiwakamaru		A famous song that sings of the encounter between Benkei and Ushiwakamaru
26	scarecrow		A nursery song about a one-legged doll standing in a rice field
27	Adorable foalSakushi: Satō Hachirō / Sakkyoku: Niki Takio		A classic that warmly portrays a scene of a foal and a child
28	puff		A gentle kaiju song, a timeless piece that resonates with the heart
29	BELIEVE		A moving song that sings of the beauty of life
30	Born on this planet		A masterpiece of beautiful melodies and hope that never abandons its dreams
31	Dona Dona		A sad song of a calf, a masterpiece that resonates with the heart
32	Momotaro		A song about demon-slaying that sings the story of Momotaro
33	Morning on the Ranch		Morning Song Born from Iwase Farm
34	Ride a hot air balloon to the ends of the earthSumida Shonen Shojo Gasshodan		1974 NHK School Music Competition required piece
35	The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomKawada Masako		Shizuoka mandarin orchards, a sad and beautiful song from the postwar era
36	The Mountain Hut’s LightŌmi Toshirō		A beautiful song inspired by Mount Hotaka
37	Spring Stream		A school song depicting a spring brook scene
38	sand hillAtsumi Kiyoshi		The loneliness as Tora-san gazes at the Sea of Sado
39	Mount Fuji		A famous song that sings of the beauty of Mount Fuji, selected among Japan’s 100 Best Songs
40	Ballad of the MonstersSumida Shonen Shojo Gasshodan		Popular as a choral piece from “Young 101”
41	OompapaSuginami Jidō Gasshōdan		An adorable children's song, loved around the world
42	Where does the morning begin?Okamoto Atsurō · Anzai Aiko		A bright, forward-looking song created right after the end of the war to bring hope and vitality.
43	teru teru bozu (a traditional Japanese handmade doll hung to wish for good weather)Hirayama Miyoko, Nakayama Kajiko, Omura Masako		As a child, I thought it was a straightforward song about wishes, but the third verse surprised me.
44	Raja MaharajaTogawa Jun		Luxurious life of an Indian-style Maharaja
45	I want to become the wind.Sapporo Kitano Shounen Shoujo Gasshoudan		A Latin-style masterpiece, a work by Kazufumi Miyazawa.
46	Osaka City Streetcar Song		PR Song for the Old Trams of Osaka
47	Whispers of HopeTōkyō Konsei Gasshōdan		A beautiful choral piece sung since before the war
48	Harmony Traveling the Future		The set piece for the All-Japan School Music Competition is moving.
49	rabbit		A children's folk song is certified as a Ministry of Education shoka (school song).
50	Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri/Girls’ Day)		The graceful song of Hinamatsuri, with its beautiful lyrics, is enchanting.
51	winter scenery		A beautiful song that depicts Japan’s four seasons
52	Evening Glow (Yuyake Koyake)		Countryside dusk, a beautiful Japanese song
53	the Hinomaru flag		The History of the Rising Sun and the National Anthem
54	sea		A beautiful children's song depicting the seascape
55	Flower		Taki Rentarō’s spring song, Scenes of the Sumida River
56	snow		A traditional Japanese song with unknown lyrics
57	pigeon		A fun nursery rhyme about feeding beans to pigeons
58	COSMOS		Cosmos is the harmony of the universe and music.
59	The Bell of Peace		A peace song about the war in Okinawa
60	Let’s search for Tomorrow		A graduation song written and composed by Toru Osawa
61	Tomorrow		Graduation song from Journey of Life on Earth
62	There’s no such thing as ghosts.		Expressing children’s emotions through ghost songs
63	Sugarcane field		The famous song that reflects on Okinawa’s war dead, “Sugarcane Field.”
64	Green Green		A folk song classic with sad lyrics and a refreshing melody
65	My Ballad		Takao Matsui’s choral piece, characterized by triplets.
66	I found the first star		A monument inscribed with the lyrics of a nostalgic children’s song
67	Kantarō the North Wind Kid		Enka for children: Kantaro’s captivating song
68	Harvest Moon		A sorrowful song, speaking to the moon of a mother and sister’s feelings
69	King Kamehameha of the Southern Islands		A fun song with the same name on a southern island
70	foal		A song about the scene of a foal walking while carrying a person
71	Sing, Bam-Bam!		The theme song is fun, and you can sing it with your mouth wide open.
72	Choo-choo train		A song reflecting memories of steam locomotives and wartime
73	Urashima Taro		Urashima Tarō, a rhythmic classic
74	Blue-Eyed Doll		Singing about Japan–U.S. friendship, cultural differences, and anxieties
75	A gentle green breezehibari jidō gasshōdan		The comfort of being enveloped in the spring sunlight.
76	Summer has comeZa · Pīnattsu		Nostalgic music that sings of the seasons resonates in my heart.
77	I found a little sign of autumn.bonījakkusu		A song that expresses a rich, personal sentiment of suddenly sensing autumn in everyday life.
78	Watermill in the ForestNamiki Michiko		Work happily, and someday you'll be rewarded.
79	That Town, This TownKuboki Sachiko		Reflecting on children's play and dreams
80	Plover on the BeachSakushi: Kashima Naruaki / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryūtarō		The Sad Tale of the Beach Plover Crossing the Sea
81	Height comparisonSatoko Koga		Family bonds and nostalgic Japanese landscapes
82	This roadOhnuki Taeko		A mature woman walks alone along an old path, calmly recounting her life.
83	Desert of the MoonYamazaki Hako		I felt a deep drama in the song—moving.
84	Tsutomu from the Yamaguchi FamilySaitō Kozue		Minna no Uta, classic hits
85	Sakura, sakuraSuginami Jidō Gasshōdan		The allure of cherry blossoms: diverse expressions and unadorned beauty
86	Flower TownToukyou Tama Shounen Shoujo Gasshoudan		A postwar masterpiece, a song of hope and loneliness
87	The dolphin goes splish-splash.Tōkyō Hōsō Jidō Gasshōdan		A 3/4-time song with puns that children enjoy
88	Early Spring OdeYuki Saori, Yasuda Shoko		A song of the four seasons that feels the beauty of Japan
89	maple leaves		A Hundred Select Autumn Songs, a Beautiful Choral Piece
90	young fox (kit)		Children's songs, from the original German to the Japanese version
91	Happy HinamatsuriSatoko Yamano · Mori no Ki Children’s Choir		Fun songs that color Japan’s seasonal events
92	black kite		A children’s song that sings of a black kite’s freedom
93	On the Day of Departure		The graduation song spread from the local community to the entire country.
94	Moon		It is a heartwarming song that sings about the moon’s rising and setting.
95	To the future		Kiroro’s famous song that sings about steps toward the future
96	Voices of Insects		A fun children's song that imitates the sounds of insects
97	red dragonfly		Autumn song of the red dragonfly, longing for my hometown
98	waiting in vainMiyamoto Tomoko		A Taisho-era folk song that warns against making easy money
99	Village AutumnBaishō Chieko		The essence and gentleness of a song imbued with prayers of wartime
100	Moon over the Ruined CastleAkiyama Masashi		I feel the scenery of the ruined castle through Akikawa’s singing.