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)
Good fortune comes to a cheerful home.chiitana
Chiitana’s track “Egao Kitaru Fukujin” (“Laughter Brings Good Fortune”) is the perfect number to welcome the New Year with a smile.
Its driving melody evokes the year-end hustle and bustle, while the lyrics are peaceful and uplifting.
It even sings about the classic New Year’s tradition of mochi pounding, so listening might make you crave some mochi! True to its title—based on the saying “Good fortune comes to a home filled with laughter”—this song leaves you feeling positive, ready to greet the New Year with mochi and a smile.
New Year’s mochi poundingwarabeuta
Recreate mochi pounding with a hand game! Let’s sing the children’s song “New Year’s Mochi Pounding” while doing the hand motions.
One person claps their hands vertically at a steady rhythm.
The other person plays by moving their hands in and out so they don’t get caught between the claps, or by moving as if kneading the mochi.
Words that aren’t often heard in everyday life, like “hikkoneru” (to pull or knead) and “tottsuku” (to stick or grab), become easier to imagine through the hand movements, so even small children can more easily picture how mochi pounding works.
Classic and standard Japanese songs about rice-cake pounding (31–40)
The mochi won’t come off.Keroponzu
“The Mochi Won’t Come Off,” sung by the hugely popular-for-kids duo Keropons.
When it comes to mochi, it’s delicious but super stretchy, and once it sticks to your mouth or clothes, it clings and is really hard to get off… Doesn’t everyone have that experience? This song captures that stubborn, hard-to-remove mochi from a child’s point of view.
While pounding mochi, it gets stuck on their back, arms, and legs, and won’t come off.
You can hear a hint of panic in the melody when it won’t come off, and then a sense of relief when it finally does—a cute, charming little tune.
Fluffy FriendsHakoniiwa Ririi
Thanks to its gentle melody and cute lyrics, just listening to it fills you with warmth.
Featured on the album “Suisei Shoujo,” this track was released in September 2020.
Within its rabbit-themed world, a phrase about pounding mochi appears.
The soft sound arrangement and Hakoniwa Lily’s characteristically clear vocals resonate in the heart.
It’s a perfect song for peaceful moments spent with family and friends.
Mochi Affection!Kitashirakawa Tamako (Suzaki Aya)
This is a track included on the character song album from the 2013 TV anime Tamako Market.
The anime’s protagonist, Tamako Kitashirakawa, is the daughter of a mochi shop owner, and her mochi-making skills are top-notch.
She often uses mochi as a metaphor for things and is a mochi-loving high school girl who is always coming up with various “mochi ideas.” “Omochi Affection!” is a cute song overflowing with Tamako’s love for mochi.
From ozoni to sakura mochi, kuzumochi, and mame daifuku, it depicts enjoying mochi all year round—so much that it makes you want to run out and buy some yourself.
Moon-Viewing Counting SongSenya (CV: Satou Satomi)
A heartwarming number that charmingly sings of the elegance of moon-viewing.
This piece was included in “Is the Order a Rabbit?? Birthday Song Series 06,” released in September 2019.
Set on a long autumn night, it features scenes of making moon-viewing dumplings and calling out to the rabbit on the moon—its adorable worldview is part of its appeal.
And Chiya’s voice actress, Satomi Satō, delivers such a gentle vocal performance that it warms the listener’s heart.
Savor the season with this song.
Mochi-Mochi OndoBōya Saburō
A unique song that plays on the phrase “mochitsumotaretsu” (mutual give-and-take) and how it connects with mochi and human relationships.
It’s sung by Saburō Bōya, who was active as an actor and comedian, and was released as a single in 1976.
The snappy lyrics featuring onomatopoeia are delightful.
As you listen, your body starts swaying on its own.
Mochitsuki (rice-cake pounding) strongly evokes New Year’s, but since, as the title suggests, it has an ondō (festival chant) style, this particular song might actually fit better as background music for a summer festival.
