Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season

The Hungry Tummy SongNEW!sakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi

The Hungry Tummy Song

When you’re dashing around full of energy amid the fresh greenery, it’s easy to work up an appetite in May! That’s when this children’s song—humorously portraying the hunger everyone feels—fits perfectly.

With lyrics by Hiroo Sakata and music by Megumi Oonaka, it was first published in a magazine in October 1960 and gained popularity after being broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in August 1962.

The image of a growling stomach so empty it feels like your belly and back might stick together makes kids laugh, and its lively, singable melody is part of the charm.

The choice of calling mother “kaachan” also conveys a sense of warmth at home.

When you’ve played so much that you’re absolutely starving, or right before school lunch, singing it might make the meal taste even better! Enjoy singing it during activities at preschool or on picnics, and have fun turning even hunger into a song!

Cradle SongSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Kusakawa Shin

Rimi Natsukawa / Cradle Song

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.

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Happy Children’s DaySakushi: Maki Fusayu / Sakkyoku: Hara Kenichi

Fun Children's Day [Tango no Sekku]

Exactly as the title suggests, this is a Japanese Ministry of Education school song themed around May 5th, Children’s Day.

It’s a piece notable for its somewhat nostalgic melody and refreshing lyrics.

Incidentally, in 1948 May 5th was designated a national holiday, and the festival of Tango no Sekku came to be known as Children’s Day.

Height comparisonSakushi: Umino Atsushi / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei

Height Comparison – Sei Kurabe | The mark on the pillar was from the year before last [Japanese Song / Shoka]

This is a Japanese children’s song, published in the Taisho era, that depicts the festivities of Tango no Sekku (the Boys’ Festival).

In ancient China, Tango no Sekku was considered a day to ward off evil and pray for health.

Customs included going out to the fields to gather medicinal herbs, displaying dolls made of mugwort, and drinking shobu (sweet flag) liquor.

Tea PickingMonbushō shōka

Tea Picking

It is a Japanese children’s song and Ministry of Education shoka, published in 1912, known for its opening line “Summer is coming near on the 88th night.” This piece is said to be based on a tea-picking song from Ujitawara Village in Kyoto.

Incidentally, the “88th Night” is one of the zassetsu (seasonal days outside the traditional 24 solar terms), referring to the 88th day counted from the start of spring (Risshun), which typically falls around May 2 each year.

carp streamerSakushi: Kondō Miyako / Sakkyoku: Fumei

♪ Koinobori – Carp Streamers | Carp Streamers Higher Than the Rooftops; The Big Black Carp Is Father [Japanese Song / Shoka]

Speaking of May, it’s Children’s Day! And when it’s Children’s Day, you often see carp streamers gently swaying as they swim through the sky.

There’s a classic Children’s Day nursery song called “Koinobori” that sings about a family of these carp streamers.

There are a few other songs that also feature koinobori and use kanji in their titles, but this one is the most popular and is often sung in preschools and kindergartens.

The song depicts a large black or blue father carp streamer and small, adorable child carp streamers swimming in the sky.

On Children’s Day, why not head out to look for koinobori in your neighborhood while singing this song?

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Stroll MarchSakushi/Sakkyoku: Tsujibayashi Miho

Osanpo March / Okaasan to Issho (Covered by UtaSuta) [Original Animation]

On nice spring days, it’s really fun to play outside, isn’t it? This month’s song on “Okaasan to Issho,” Osanpo March, is also a lovely tune that perfectly captures the refreshing feel of May.

The lyrics—“Let’s walk across the rainbow; it’s a colorful path, so it’s fun.

Full of energy, let’s keep walking all the way to space”—are easy to relate to.

Once you hear the marching rhythm, you might feel like walking while singing along.

On sunny days, singing outdoors is great too.

Osanpo March, sung by Yuuichirou Hanada and Atsuko Ono, is available for download on RecoChoku.