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Lovely children's song

[Animal Song] Fun nursery rhymes popular with children

Picking out “animal songs” from popular children’s songs!

There are so many kinds of animals—dogs and cats that are popular as pets, and lions and pandas that are symbolic of zoos.

Did you know there are children’s songs that feature a variety of animals?

In this article, we’ll introduce many animal-themed songs, including the famous Inu no Omawari-san (The Dog Policeman) and Mori no Kuma-san (The Bear in the Forest).

There are also lots of finger-play songs you can use in childcare, so be sure to make good use of them.

If children become interested in animals, it might be nice to take a trip to the zoo!

Playlist

[Animal Song] Fun nursery rhymes popular with children
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastlittle fox
little foxplay_arrow
A little fox plays in the forest with berries and fallen leaves.
2eastJungle Pocketsakushi: hasegawa katsuji / sakkyoku: fukuda wakako
Jungle Pocketsakushi: hasegawa katsuji / sakkyoku: fukuda wakakoplay_arrow
A dream world where animals leap out of your pocket
3eastThe Puppy Police OfficerSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi
The Puppy Police OfficerSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumiplay_arrow
A story about a police-dog officer helping a lost cat
4eastThe Bear of the ForestSakushi: Baba Yoshihiro / Sakkyoku: Amerika min’yō
The Bear of the ForestSakushi: Baba Yoshihiro / Sakkyoku: Amerika min'yōplay_arrow
If you encounter a bear, either run away or play dead.
5eastA Little Bear in the RainSakushi: Tsurumi Masao / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
A Little Bear in the RainSakushi: Tsurumi Masao / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akiraplay_arrow
A cute observation log of a bear cub on a rainy day
6eastThe Mountain Musicianssakushi: mizuta shisen / sakkyoku: doitsu min’yō
The Mountain Musicianssakushi: mizuta shisen / sakkyoku: doitsu min'yōplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme about animals playing musical instruments in the mountains
7eastGoat MailSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
Goat MailSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikumaplay_arrow
A story about a goat who eats letters
8eastFrog ChorusYakushi: Okamoto Toshiaki / Sakkyoku: Doitsu min’yō
Frog ChorusYakushi: Okamoto Toshiaki / Sakkyoku: Doitsu min'yōplay_arrow
Frog Chorus, a fun round
9eastrabbit
rabbitplay_arrow
A Mid-Autumn moon rabbit gazing at the moon
10eastaye-ayeSakushi: Aida Hiromi / Sakkyoku: Uno Seiichirou
aye-ayeSakushi: Aida Hiromi / Sakkyoku: Uno Seiichirouplay_arrow
The aye-aye is a unique animal with large ears.
11eastRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerLyrics and Composition: Johnny Max
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Lyrics and Music: Johnny Marksplay_arrow
The red nose of the reindeer, a story where individuality shines
12eastSong of the Gluttonous GorillaSakushi: Abe Naomi / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyuki
Song of the Gluttonous GorillaSakushi: Abe Naomi / Sakkyoku: Ozawa Tatsuyukiplay_arrow
My favorite gorilla eating a ton
13eastPanda, rabbit, koala
Panda, rabbit, koalaplay_arrow
A fun hand-play song that expresses animal characteristics
14eastSchool of MedakaSakushi: Chaki Shigeru / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao
School of MedakaSakushi: Chaki Shigeru / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinaoplay_arrow
Imagining them swimming at a medaka (Japanese rice fish) school
15eastSong of the Resounding GrasslandsSakushi: Kubota Yuzuru Sakkyoku: Maruyama Aki
Song of the Resounding GrasslandsSakushi: Kubota Yuzuru Sakkyoku: Maruyama Akiplay_arrow
A children's song from Mongolian folklore, Melody of Light and Wind
16eastSeagull SailorSakushi: Takeuchi Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Mitsuyo
Seagull SailorSakushi: Takeuchi Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Mitsuyoplay_arrow
The Seagull and the Sailor’s Cheerful Sea Song
17eastSeven-year-old childSakushi: Noguchi Ujo / Sakkyoku: Motoori Nagayo
Seven-year-old childSakushi: Noguchi Ujo / Sakkyoku: Motoori Nagayoplay_arrow
A gentle children’s song about a family of crows, The Tale of Seven Little Ones
18eastTanuki of Fist Mountain
Tanuki of Fist Mountainplay_arrow
Cute nursery rhymes and fun play songs of the tanuki (raccoon dog)
19eastMary’s lambSakushi sakkyoku: Amerika minyō
Mary's lambSakushi sakkyoku: Amerika minyōplay_arrow
The nursery rhyme about Mary’s lamb going to school
20eastRabbit DanceSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
Rabbit DanceSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpeiplay_arrow
The Rabbit Dance is a fun nursery rhyme popular among children.
21eastMr. ElephantSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
Mr. ElephantSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikumaplay_arrow
The love between a baby elephant and its mother
22eastAll mothersamerika min’yō
All mothersamerika min'yōplay_arrow
The Mysterious Song of the Horse and the Piglet, a Japanese Children's Song
23eastMr. Elephant
Mr. Elephantplay_arrow
A children's song that affirms differences and cherishes being oneself
24eastThe little cowboy has arrived.Sakkyoku: Sakata Hiroo / Sakushi: Arekisu Sakkyoku Tom Tirilin Tom
The little cowboy has arrived.Sakkyoku: Sakata Hiroo / Sakushi: Arekisu Sakkyoku Tom Tirilin Tomplay_arrow
Song of a Little Cowboy Galloping Across the West
25eastRun, Kotaro!Sakushi: Ikeda Kenkichi / Sakkyoku: Ikeda Kenkichi, Maeda Nobuo
Run, Kotaro!Sakushi: Ikeda Kenkichi / Sakkyoku: Ikeda Kenkichi, Maeda Nobuoplay_arrow
A classic parody song of horse race commentary, packed with a sense of speed.
26eastHorse’s tail, pig’s tail.Sakushi: Abe Hitomi / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naozumi
Horse's tail, pig's tail.Sakushi: Abe Hitomi / Sakkyoku: Yamamoto Naozumiplay_arrow
An adorable nursery rhyme about a horse and a pig’s tails
27eastHAPPY HONEY HORSENo-zan Ho-su Pa-ku
HAPPY HONEY HORSENo-zan Ho-su Pa-kuplay_arrow
Parents and children have fun bonding with a horse-themed hand play song
28eastKintaroSakushi: Ishihara Wasaburō / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazō
KintaroSakushi: Ishihara Wasaburō / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazōplay_arrow
A valiant child of Mount Ashigara’s song, with lively lyrics
29eastFoal’s Rhythm PlayMonbushō shōka
Foal's Rhythm PlayMonbushō shōkaplay_arrow
A playful rhythmic chant that expresses the hoofbeats of a foal
30eastAdorable foalSakushi: Satō Hachirō / Sakkyoku: Niki Takio
Adorable foalSakushi: Satō Hachirō / Sakkyoku: Niki Takioplay_arrow
A classic that warmly portrays a scene of a foal and a child
31easthorse (childish/affectionate term)Sakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Matsushima Tsune
horse (childish/affectionate term)Sakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Matsushima Tsuneplay_arrow
A song story depicting the affection between a foal and its mother horse
32eastPlayable on easy piano! KusakeibaSakkyoku: Sutiibun Fositā
Playable on easy piano! KusakeibaSakkyoku: Sutiibun Fositāplay_arrow
A delightful classic that captures the lightness of a horse
33eastAfter Man
After Manplay_arrow
Depicting the future of animals after the extinction of humankind
34eastMountain MusiciansDoitsu min’yō
Mountain MusiciansDoitsu min'yōplay_arrow
A Fun Concert by the Forest Animals
35eastPanda, rabbit, koala
Panda, rabbit, koalaplay_arrow
The hand-play song “Panda, Rabbit, Koala”
36eastI Stepped on the Cat
I Stepped on the Catplay_arrow
Cat songs are loved around the world.
37eastShōjōji’s Raccoon Dog Festival MusicSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
Shōjōji’s Raccoon Dog Festival MusicSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpeiplay_arrow
The Legend of the Tanuki Drumming at Shojoji Temple and Noguchi Ujo
38eastPiglet-raccoon dog-fox-catsakushi sakkyoku/yamamoto naozumi
Piglet-raccoon dog-fox-catsakushi sakkyoku/yamamoto naozumiplay_arrow
A hand-play song with animals using shiritori, hugely popular with children
39eastCute Hide and SeekSakushi: Satou Hachirou/Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao
Cute Hide and SeekSakushi: Satou Hachirou/Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinaoplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme about animals playing hide-and-seek
40eastA Rainy Day on the Ranch
A Rainy Day on the Ranchplay_arrow
A cheerful song of animals on a rainy ranch
41eastPicnic
Picnicplay_arrow
A rhythmic song that enjoys the sounds of animals
42eastAnimal Clock
Animal Clockplay_arrow
A song brimming with the chimes of clocks and the charm of animals
43eastHey, Kaba-kun!sakushi: nakagawa itsuko / sakkyoku: nakagawa hirotaka
Hey, Kaba-kun!sakushi: nakagawa itsuko / sakkyoku: nakagawa hirotakaplay_arrow
The charm of animals for children through hippopotamus songs
44eastThe Bear of the Forest
The Bear of the Forestplay_arrow
Let's enjoy learning the bear song
45eastThe Hare and the Tortoise
The Hare and the Tortoiseplay_arrow
The Hare and the Tortoise, Ishihara’s famous fable
46eastKagome Kagome
Kagome Kagomeplay_arrow
The mystery and song monument of the nursery rhyme “Musunde Hiraite”
47eastRed bird, little birdSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Narita Tamezō
Red bird, little birdSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Narita Tamezōplay_arrow
Miekichi Suzuki's nursery rhymes 'Red Bird' and 'Red Bird, Little Bird'
48eastDaikoku-sama
Daikoku-samaplay_arrow
A song based on the tale of the Hare of Inaba