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 (11–20)
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Sakushi: Kayama Yoshiko / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira
This lively children’s song by Yoshiko Kayama and Akira Yuyama captures the excitement of setting off on a trip in a big bus.
Set to a rhythmic melody, it gently portrays children enjoying pretend play with vehicles.
It’s a song you can sing while moving your hands and body, so it naturally brings smiles to children’s faces.
Long cherished in childcare and educational settings, it’s also used as a play song.
With spring outing season approaching, why not sing it together as a family before a walk or a day out? If everyone enjoys it while keeping the beat, it will surely create wonderful memories in children’s hearts.
Mr. Ant on an errandsakushi: Sekine Eiichi / sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
They say this song was written in 1950 for the NHK radio program “Toddler Time,” so it’s been around for quite a long time.
The way it describes a line of ants walking as if they’re “running an errand” is charming and delightful.
The lyricist, Eiichi Sekine, was apparently a private railway station attendant at the time and not a famous songwriter, but he aimed to write lyrics that would be easy for children to understand.
Roly-poly pill bugSakushi sakkyoku/Shinzawa Toshihiko
A fingerplay song that gently portrays the cute looks and movements of small creatures was created by Toshihiko Shinzawa.
With warm lyrics and melody, it depicts encounters with the little creatures often seen in nature, making it an engaging piece that stimulates children’s curiosity.
Featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in December 2024, this work includes creative elements that let children enjoy expressing the adorable behaviors of animals through hand motions.
It can be used in kindergartens and preschools, and also serves as a tool for parents and children to bond while fostering an interest in nature.
With soothing lyrics and an approachable tune, it’s a perfect song for making happy memories during walks and outdoor play.
Mr. ElephantSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
Born from the collaboration of Michio Mado and Ikuma Dan, this song—portraying a warm bond between parent and child—was first broadcast on NHK Radio in May 1952.
Characterized by a gentle triple-time melody and heartwarming lyrics that cherish one’s individuality, it has been featured in many educational and children’s TV programs and is loved across generations.
The May 2007 version by Satoko Yamano and the Morinoki Children’s Choir remains one of the most beloved recordings.
With a melody that nestles close to the heart like a gentle spring breeze, it’s perfect for parents and children to hum together.
In the fresh green season, singing it while out for a walk will make for even more delightful memories.
Happy ChildrenSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka
This heartwarming piece by Toshihiko Shinzawa and Hirotaka Nakagawa gently sings of the mysterious power of children’s smiles and pure hearts.
Set to a bright, lighthearted melody, it portrays how being with children naturally fills us with happiness, kindling a warm light in the listener’s heart.
It is included on albums such as “How Softly the Heart Warms: Children’s Songs Grown-ups Love, Too.” In April 2024, Daisuke Yokoyama released a cover, and the song continues to be cherished across generations.
Perfect for childcare and educational settings or joyful moments with family, it’s a song everyone can sing together to share smiles—why not give it a listen?
ladybugSakushi: Shimizu Aki / Sakkyoku: Kobayashi Tsuyae
A children’s song lovingly sung by Aki Shimizu and Tsuyae Kobayashi about a small red insect.
Set to a bright, lighthearted melody, it gently portrays the charming creature with its red body and distinctive black spots.
The song is included on the albums “Kodomo no Uta 200,” “Let’s Sing About Nature!,” and in the 1981 publication “Minna no Uta: 86 Songs,” and has long been beloved by many children.
With its friendly tune, it’s the kind of song you’ll find yourself humming on a leisurely spring day while out for a stroll.
It’s perfect not only for music activities in nurseries and kindergartens, but also for families to enjoy together while experiencing the nature of spring.
Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Perfect songs for the fresh green season (21–30)
Cradle SongSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Kusakawa Shin
Lullaby of the Cradle is a perfect song for May, when we celebrate Mother’s Day—a piece that lets you feel a gentle mother’s lullaby.
The lyrics were written by Hakushu Kitahara, who penned many famous children’s songs such as Amefuri and Chakkiri-bushi.
The time a baby spends in a cradle is very short and passes in the blink of an eye.
But even after leaving the cradle, the tender lullaby a mother once sang remains as a warm memory in the heart.
Along with the gentle scenes surrounding the cradle, this song evokes the comforting memories we felt as babies.
In 2011, Rimi Natsukawa released a heartwarming rendition of the song accompanied by shamisen.
