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.
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Classic and standard Japanese songs about rice-cake pounding (21–30)
The Mochi-Pounding SongDan Ikuma
How about a children’s song that makes you hungry just by listening? It’s a piece by Ikuma Dan, who was active as a composer, conductor, and essayist.
The bright tone is striking, and it vividly brings to mind the scene of pounding mochi.
The idea of pounding as many mochi as your age is amusing, isn’t it? Depending on the region, you might hear things like, “That’s how we used to do it,” or “I’ve never heard of that method.” In the end, everyone enjoys the mochi together, each in their favorite way.
Be sure to play this song for New Year’s!
Mochitaro the Rice Cake
Let’s move our bodies energetically with a rice cake–themed exercise! Featured and released on the monthly CD “CommuniKids★,” this track is called “Omochi no Mochitaro.” With its bright, poppy sound, even very young children who don’t yet understand words might enjoy it.
The jumping moves help build stamina, too! It could be a pretty good workout for adults as well.
If you’re looking for a fun performance song or a mochi-pounding tune to play at kindergartens or nursery schools, definitely give this song a try.
Rice cake pounding on March 3rd
We’d like to introduce a children’s song and hand-clapping game about rice-cake pounding.
As its title suggests, “Mochitsuki on March 3rd” is a traditional children’s song themed around making mochi for the Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) on March 3.
Rather than plain white mochi, Hinamatsuri typically features hishi-mochi—diamond-shaped rice cakes in three colors: pink, white, and green—displayed on the festival tiers.
This song is about making that hishi-mochi, and it can be played in pairs as a hand game.
Keeping time with the rhythm, players pass their hands between the “mochi pounder’s” hands, mimicking the real call-and-response of mochi pounding, making it a fun game even for very young children.
Kamisanei Mochitsuki Song
This is the Kamisanei Mochitsuki Song performed at the Tottori Traditional Performing Arts Festival held in Tottori Prefecture in 2014.
It is sung when pounding rice cakes for the New Year and has a history of over 200 years.
It is said to have originally set mochi-pounding lyrics to the melody of a work song.
Nambu Mochitsuki Song
This is a video featuring the Nanbu Mochitsuki Song performed by the Minyo Hatakeyama Association.
The Nanbu Mochitsuki Song is widely loved throughout the Tohoku region.
In Aomori Prefecture, there are even communities that dance to it every New Year.
It’s a beloved local classic—an enduring mochi-pounding song passed down through generations.
Miyagi Mochitsuki Song
This is a video of a mochi-pounding song from Miyagi.
It’s often sung during the New Year.
In addition to this, mochi-pounding folk songs exist all over Japan, each reflecting the unique characteristics of its region.
It might be fun to explore the differences in lyrics and musical styles.
Fukuhara Mochitsuki Song
This is a traditional mochi-pounding song sung in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture.
The mochi is pounded in time with the rhythm of the song.
It is registered as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property designated by Otawara City.
If you live nearby, it’s probably a familiar tune.