Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season
May is the season when fresh green leaves shine brightly and playing outside becomes so much fun.
On walks, you can hear many little birds and feel the pleasant breeze, which lifts your spirits.
At times like that, why not spend the moment singing children’s songs that let you feel the joys of spring?
We’re introducing many songs—from ones that capture the comfortable feeling of May to tunes perfect for spring field trips and fun outings.
Let’s sing children’s songs that you can enjoy together with May’s nature—everyone with friends and family!
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Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Perfect songs for the season of fresh greenery (71–80)
tea pickingbunkashō shōka
Published in 1912 (the 45th year of the Meiji era), this piece is a song that conveys Japan’s cherished traditional culture and the beauty of nature.
It gently depicts the early-summer scenery that arrives around the 88th night of spring and the scenes of tea picking, featuring a light, approachable melody.
Its rhythmical lyrics, aligned with the motions of tea picking, also carry elements of a work song.
In 2007, it was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs” by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the National PTA Council of Japan, and it has been featured in various contexts such as children’s songs, anime, and TV dramas.
While tea picking may not be very familiar to people today, why not enjoy it with your children as an opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture?
To the Sun in the Palm of Your HandSakushi: Yanase Takashi / Sakkyoku: Izumi Taku
A wonderful song in which Takashi Yanase’s gentle lyrics and Taku Izumi’s bright melody blend beautifully, teaching us that earthworms, dragonflies, and frogs are our precious friends too.
Created in 1961 and broadcast the following year on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” it quickly captured the hearts of many.
It has since been covered by numerous artists, including Dark Ducks and BON-BON BLANCO, and featured in the film “Chiisana Jumbo” and the TV anime “Sore Ike! Anpanman.” Cherished across generations, from children to adults, this work is also perfect as a hand-play song for families to enjoy together.
Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba
A song that paints a large ship in the blue sky and sings of an adventure to a new world is full of charm that richly nurtures children’s imaginations.
Along with energetic calls and cheers, its uplifting message that expands their hopes for dreams will surely resonate deeply in children’s hearts.
Beloved in kindergartens and nursery schools, this work shines in scenes where children sing together, such as at sports days and concerts.
Its structure, which lets children move their bodies joyfully while singing, is also a major appeal that enables everyone to have fun as one.
It is a cherished piece in childcare and educational settings.
one bamboo shootwarabe uta
Takenoko Ippon is a game themed around bamboo shoots, which are in season in spring.
Players split into two roles: the oni (tagger) who pulls out the bamboo shoot, and the bamboo shoots themselves.
The game starts with the oni’s call.
In response to the chant, “Give me X bamboo shoots,” the players acting as bamboo shoots react.
If the oni manages to pull someone out of the line and separate them, they take that person back to their side.
The game lets kids enjoy a variety of movements, like clinging to teachers or friends or being carried.
Try this unique game both indoors and outdoors.
a big drumSakushi: Kobayashi Junichi / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao
The steadily resounding drumbeats can be a little startling, but they’re exciting, aren’t they? The children’s song “Big Drum” almost makes you feel like you can hear those fun drum sounds.
It sings about playing a big drum and a small drum, and you enjoy it with dynamics—singing loudly for the big drum parts and softly for the small drum parts.
It’s great as a hand-play song, pretending to beat the drums while you sing! In warm, energetic May, try singing it as if you’re joyfully playing the drums.
scarecrowMonbushō shōka
It seems that this song is actually a Ministry of Education school song published in 1911 (Meiji 44) in the Elementary School Songbook for the second grade.
The theme of the song is the scarecrow used to drive away pests like crows from rice fields and vegetable patches.
Thanks to this song, there are probably quite a few people named Yamada who ended up with the nickname “Scarecrow.” These days, there may even be children who don’t know what a scarecrow is.
shoulder tapSakushi: Saijō Yaso / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
A song themed around a shoulder massage that will make your mom happy on Mother’s Day.
It describes gently tapping your mother’s shoulders to the rhythm.
The lyrics also notice the changes in your mother as you massage her, as well as the seasonal changes around the home.
While singing this warm, heartfelt song, why not actually give your mom a shoulder massage as a Mother’s Day gift to express your everyday gratitude? She’s sure to be delighted!