Classic and standard Japanese songs celebrating mochi pounding
When you think of New Year’s or the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, some people might picture mochi.
During the New Year, many households display kagami-mochi and have plenty of chances to eat mochi, and around moon-viewing season, there’s even the saying that rabbits are pounding mochi on the moon.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide selection of songs related to mochi! From songs that sing about mochi, to hand-play songs themed around mochi pounding, and even folk songs about mochi that have long been rooted in local regions—we’ll cover it all.
Take this opportunity to give them a listen.
- [New Year’s Songs] Timeless classics and popular New Year tunes you’ll want to listen to at the start of the year
- Songs that hype you up just by listening—recommended tracks from timeless classics to the latest releases
- Masterpieces to Listen to in January: New Year-Themed, New Year-Ready, and Winter Songs
- [Masterpieces Singing the Full Moon] Carefully Selected Popular and Classic Songs Related to the Moon
- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Winter songs you'll want to listen to in the cold season! Recommended for the yutori generation
- Winter songs in 90s J-pop: a roundup of popular winter tunes
- [February 2026] Trending Songs: A roundup of the hottest viral tracks right now
- [Moon Songs Special] Famous songs about the moon. Songs you’ll want to listen to under a full moon or in the moonlight.
- Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
- Parody Versions of the Children's Song “Oshōgatsu” | Hilarious and Not-So-Hilarious!? Check Out the Shocking Lyrics!
- Childcare: Today's recommended fun songs
- [2026] Get Everyone Pumped! Fun and Funny Songs That Kill at Drinking Parties
Top 10 classic and standard Japanese songs about mochi pounding (1–10)
Super Rabbit☆Antikku-Kohiten-
Released in September 2006 as the B-side to the single “Smile Ichiban Ii Onna,” this song showcases Antic Cafe’s signature fantastical worldview.
It depicts mysterious sounds drifting from the moon when you look up at the night sky and the feeling of love overflowing.
Its pop, lighthearted rock sound is another hallmark.
Listen during moon-viewing season, and you’ll feel your imagination expand.
Have a dreamsakuya・kaguya from BEST FRIENDS!
This is an insert song from the anime Aikatsu Friends! that, through the story of a princess from the moon, portrays the importance of holding on to your dreams.
It was included on the single Fourth Color: BLUE, released in February 2019, and was used in multiple episodes, beginning with Episode 46.
With lyrics sprinkled with cosmic motifs like moon-gazing and the galaxy, the song’s world feels like a bridge of sound resonating across time and space.
The arrangement, which fuses classical elements with pop, creates a forward-looking atmosphere that’s both fantastical and uplifting.
It’s a perfect track for anyone striving toward their dreams or hoping to walk forward together with someone special.
Cosmic dance!KOTORI with SUTECHCHIBĀDO
Released in September 2015 as the ending theme for the anime Yo-kai Watch, this song captivates with a space-themed world.
It features an up-tempo, techno-inspired sound and lyrics sprinkled with words like “Mars” and “dance.” Thanks to its playful words and catchy melody, it’s a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
The choreography was handled by Lucky Ikeda, who also worked on “Yo-kai Exercise No.
1.” It peaked at No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and was also used as the ending theme for the game Yo-kai Watch Blasters.
Classic and standard Japanese songs about rice cake pounding (11–20)
Lively winterBerryz Kōbō & Yaguchi Mari
Released in 2005 as the B-side to the single “Gag 100-kai bun Aishite Kudasai,” this song paints a lively picture of cozy family time in winter.
Featuring a retro Charleston-style sound, its bright vocals dance over a sprightly rhythm.
The lyrics depict a warm scene where everyone in the family is smiling.
Listen to it on bustling winter days filled with mochi pounding and New Year preparations, and it’s sure to leave your heart feeling toasty.
Kon the rabbitTAKAMICHI
A lyrical enka song that intertwines a snowbound winter scene with feelings for one’s family.
Released as a single by King Records in May 2000, it was chosen as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Gokigenyō” from April to June 2000.
The song was created by a team of seasoned writers: lyrics by Tetsuya Chiaki, composition by Keisuke Hama, and arrangement by Mitsuo Hagita.
It sings of a mother’s figure vanishing into a blizzard and the aching sadness of waiting along a snowy road.
It’s a piece to savor when you want to reflect on memories of your hometown and the bonds with your family.
Moonlightkuzu
The debut single of Kuzu, a musical duo that sprang from a Fuji TV sketch show.
It’s a folk-style piece themed around a moonlit night.
Written and composed by Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, the song was inspired by the moment he looked up at the moon and features various moon-related motifs.
Released in November 2001, it reached No.
5 on the Oricon charts and was also included on the album “Kuzu Album.” Why not give it a listen while gazing at the moon during the harvest moon season, or while enjoying mochi at New Year?
Friend of the MoonTegomasu
This piece by the musical duo Tegomass turns the well-known folktale of rabbits pounding mochi on the moon into pop music for adults.
The words penned by Takahisa Masuda are sprinkled with fantastical metaphors and playful onomatopoeia, all gently wrapped by their vocals.
Released in January 2014 as a bonus track on the album Tegomass no Seishun, this song is perfect for listening on a moon-viewing night, letting you revisit your childhood.
You’ll surely find yourself wrapped in a dreamy mood.