Children’s songs and nursery rhymes about the moon
The moon shining in the dark night is so beautiful, isn’t it?
In Japan, there’s also a tradition of moon-viewing during the Mid-Autumn full moon around September, while eating rice dumplings (dango).
In this article, we’ll introduce children’s songs that feature the beautiful moon.
We’ve gathered a variety of songs—from pieces that seem to express the moon’s beauty just as it is, to songs that spotlight the full moon of the Mid-Autumn night.
How about singing along while enjoying dango during your moon-viewing?
Even if it’s not the Mid-Autumn full moon, it’s nice to take time now and then to gaze at the moon.
- [Moon Songs Special] Famous songs about the moon. Songs you’ll want to listen to under a full moon or in the moonlight.
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
- Songs to listen to under the moon: classic and recommended popular tracks to enjoy the Mid-Autumn full moon
- [Masterpieces Singing the Full Moon] Carefully Selected Popular and Classic Songs Related to the Moon
- Famous songs about the crescent moon. Recommended popular tracks.
- [For Seniors] Autumn Songs That Touch the Heart: From Nostalgic Children’s Songs and School Songs to Showa-Era Kayōkyoku
- A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.
- Actually scary nursery rhymes. Children's songs that give you the chills once you understand their meaning
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- Song of the Maple Leaves. An autumn children’s song/nursery rhyme/folk song
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
Children’s songs and nursery rhymes about the moon (11–20)
I want the moon.Sakushi: Kyūchū Unshi / Sakkyoku: Fukamachi Jun
Some children might feel that they want to make the round, beautiful moon their very own so they can look at it forever! “I Want the Moon” is a song that was featured on NHK Educational TV’s program “Okaasan to Issho.” The lyrics are filled with a child’s dreams and hopes about making the moon theirs—going for walks together and falling asleep side by side.
Why not sing it while imagining what you would do if the moon were yours?
rabbitwarabeuta
Usagi (Rabbit) is a traditional children’s song of unknown lyricist and composer, said to have been passed down since the Edo period.
It was first used as teaching material in elementary schools in 1892.
Composed using a traditional Japanese scale, it is also chosen as a practice piece for Japanese instruments like the shamisen and koto.
In recent years, it was even used as background music in a Konami shooting game.
The lyrics are simple, depicting a rabbit hopping as it gazes at the full moon on the night of the harvest moon, yet the slightly plaintive, lingering melody is particularly memorable.
Full Moon Night’s Mochi Poundingwarabeuta
On the night of the harvest moon, when the moon looks more beautiful than ever, we offer rice dumplings, don’t we? This song, “Jūgoya-san no Mochitsuki,” describes making those dumplings by pounding mochi.
It’s a hand-play song you can enjoy while singing in pairs, so it’s perfect to sing with family or friends! One person keeps a steady tempo the whole time, moving both hands up and down as if pounding mochi.
The other person also keeps the rhythm, and in between, makes kneading motions to match the lyrics.
If your timing and rhythm aren’t in sync, you’ll bump into each other, so coordinate your breathing and have fun playing together!
The moon is following me.sakushi sakkyoku: nakagawa hirotaka
The song that gives the moon a slightly scary impression is “The Moon Is Following Me.” The lyrics and music are by Hirotaka Nakagawa, a picture-book writer and singer-songwriter known for many children’s songs such as “Rainbow” and “To Become Friends.” The song expresses the feeling that it’s a little scary and you want it to stop when the moon seems to keep following you as you move.
It’s true that the ever-present moon in the sky, visible wherever you go, might feel a bit scary to a child.
If your child feels frightened, tell them, “It’s okay—the moon is just watching over you.”
Evening primrose flowersakushi: Yamakawa Kiyoshi / sakkyoku: Yamamoto Masayuki
The children’s song “Tsukimisō no Hana” (The Evening Primrose Flower) features evening primroses that bloom only on summer nights, together with the moon.
It’s a wistful piece that sings of quietly enjoying the moon and the evening primroses alone on a moonlit night.
Flowers usually grow by bathing in the sun’s light, but the evening primrose, which blooms only at night, almost seems to live by the moon’s glow.
What might a hill covered with those mysterious flowers look like? Sing this song while letting your imagination wander, and try to feel the charm of evening primroses that bloom only at night.
Ponchararin on a moonlit nightSakushi: Saitō Kumiko / Sakkyoku: Koshiji Nobuyoshi
Ponchararin on a Moonlit Night is perfect for summer festivals and bon dances.
Its lively rhythm makes you want to start dancing as you gaze at the moon.
The song tells of raccoons, fireflies, and rabbits each dreaming their own dreams while looking up at the moon.
The moon, with its mysterious aura, somehow feels like it might make our wishes come true.
No matter how big or small, try singing and dancing joyfully while imagining your own dreams—just like the animals!
Children’s Songs and Nursery Rhymes about the Moon (21–30)
Autumn MoonSakushi sakkyoku: Taki Rentarō
Another moon-themed song by Rentaro Taki, who composed the famous Kojo no Tsuki, is Aki no Tsuki (Autumn Moon).
This piece is the autumn section from his song cycle Shiki (Four Seasons), which portrays the seasons throughout the year.
While the lyrics for the other seasons were written by different lyricists, Taki himself wrote the words for this song.
It expresses the feeling that, although the moon always seems to shine the same, the autumn moon alone somehow has a slightly different atmosphere that stirs various emotions.
Be sure to listen to this one alongside Kojo no Tsuki!