[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] Timeless, Beloved Classics and Popular Songs (31–40)
I accidentally broke the clarinet.
This song conjures up an endearing scene of a child troubled because the instrument they got from their dad won’t make a sound—a familiar classic among children’s songs, isn’t it? It’s based on a French children’s tune and depicts a situation where the instrument “doesn’t make a sound,” rather than being “broken.” Even the famous chorus phrase is actually a gentle encouragement in French meaning “Let’s keep in step together.” This version was broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in February 1963, and became widely loved through Yoshiko Ishii’s Japanese lyrics and the vocals of Dark Ducks.
It’s perfect for singing together as a family, and if you listen with a child just starting to practice an instrument, it’s sure to encourage them not to fear making mistakes!
The Puppy Police OfficerSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi
This work, which portrays a heartwarming story of a police dog gently trying to help a lost kitten, is one of Japan’s representative children’s songs, where Yoshimi Sato’s warm lyrics and Megumi Ohnaka’s familiar melody blend beautifully.
While empathizing with the kitten mewing “nyan, nyan, nyan” in distress, the police dog also seeks help from a crow and a sparrow, and his kindness and efforts warmly touch listeners’ hearts.
Composed in the 1950s to 1960s, the song became beloved through educational programs such as NHK’s “Minna no Uta” and “Okaasan to Issho,” and continues to be cherished by many children.
Song of the Boy Pirates
When people hear “boy pirates,” they tend to picture those folks with straw hats, but this has nothing to do with them.
Listening to it as an adult somehow brings back memories of make-believe play.
It’s a lively song, so it seems likely to become popular with children to come.
It’s being used for performances at various daycare centers and kindergartens.
Banana Parent and ChildSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako
This heartwarming work by Kazuo Seki and Wakako Fukuda comically portrays the adorable everyday life of the Banana family living on a southern island.
The repeated phrases woven from the sounds of each family member’s name create a catchy rhythm that even small children will naturally hum along to.
First aired in 1982 on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” it has continued to be loved in many households.
It’s also included on the album “Okaasan to Issho Memorial Album,” making it perfect for parents and children to sing together! How about spending a cozy time with everyone while feeling the bonds of family?
Song of Dracula
This is a song that expresses how Dracula feels.
Dracula is a very popular character among children, isn’t he? A bad Dracula who targets kids would be nothing but terrifying if he really existed, but slightly scary characters like this are hugely popular with children.
Some of you might even have painted plastic sheets black to play Dracula, right?
Minna no Uta: Beloved Classics and Popular Songs That Transcend Time (41–50)
A birthday for a child with a cavity
This is a song about the tragedy of getting a cavity right before a birthday.
It portrays the realistic feelings of a child who can do nothing but pray to God when the worst thing happens on the eve of a fun event.
It’s a song that teaches children about the fear of cavities and the importance of brushing their teeth.
Just imagining losing your front teeth to cavities is terrifying, isn’t it?
The Prince with the Big Belly
It’s a song themed around a prince who, in today’s terms, would be called chubby.
The princes who appear in various stories are usually slender, right? But this lets you enjoy imagining what it would be like if such a prince were chubby.
A prince who keeps eating and can’t ride the magic carpet sounds like he could show up as a villain, doesn’t he?