[Minna no Uta] Beloved Across Generations: Nostalgic Classics and Popular Songs
We’re introducing some nostalgic songs from Minna no Uta, a program that has continued to produce countless classics.
I’m sure each of you has that one song that makes you think, “When it comes to Minna no Uta, it has to be this one!”
The pieces that stick in your memory may vary by generation, but in this article we’ve focused on songs that everyone knows.
They’re all tunes that feel nostalgic to anyone—just seeing the title will have you humming along before you know it.
If you’re thinking, “I want to listen to the classics from Minna no Uta,” be sure to check these out.
Let’s listen to these timeless favorites, loved across generations, with family and friends, and keep passing them down through song.
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[Minna no Uta] Beloved Through the Ages: Nostalgic Classics and Popular Songs (21–30)
The Hungry Tummy Songsakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi
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!
A Gift Without a Stamp
A song written and composed by Kazuo Zaitsu of Tulip, the band that pioneered New Music.
It has also been performed by artists such as Saori Minami and Ryoko Moriyama.
With a catchy, pop melody rather than the distinctive feel of a traditional children’s song, it’s easy to listen to and sing.
Widely covered by many artists and used in commercials, it remains beloved by many people today.
A small nut
Clutching a small nut in his hand, the boy runs off.
This song is about a child who lives on with memories that are no longer there.
I remember feeling fear and sorrow, even as a child.
Only after losing it do I recall the important things my father and mother used to say.
It’s a heart-wrenching song that conveys, from a child’s perspective, the foolishness of humans who only realize things after they’re gone.
Tsutomu from the Yamaguchi family
A song with a striking title that boldly features a full personal name: Tsutomu Yamaguchi.
It portrays the feelings of a girl who’s thinking about Tsutomu, who’s feeling down because his mom has gone back to the countryside.
While the impactful title and the child-friendly melody naturally draw your eyes and ears, a closer look at the lyrics reveals a gentle, compassionate heart that cares for others.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
At first, it’s not scary at all, but the song gradually takes on an eerie atmosphere.
And the ending is so traumatic that it might be too frightening unless you’re a bit older.
The outcome of continuing that dreamy journey of time travel might be scarier than many anime.
It’s even more chilling when it’s sung in a gentle female voice.
Sugarcane field
It’s a song sung by Ryoko Moriyama that depicts scenes of Okinawa.
It conveys the horrors of war and shocked many people.
Songs like this are often turned into parodies, but when you listen to it as an adult, you realize, “That’s not something we should do.” It’s a song that reminds us once again that we must never go to war again.
Kantarō the North Wind Kid
A classic winter song that makes you feel the chill of the season just by listening.
The part where they shout the name is especially memorable! You can sense the cold from the melody’s atmosphere and the lyrics describing the sound of the wind.
When the north wind whooshes in at the start of winter, it’s a song that makes adults and children alike think of Kantarō.