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)
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.
Classic and standard Japanese songs about rice-cake pounding (31–40)
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.
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.
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.
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.