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.
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Children’s songs and nursery rhymes about the moon (11–20)
Good evening, Mr. Moon.
This piece features a gentle melody that even infants can feel familiar with, and its unique lyrics—perfect for play activities and little theater performances—leave a strong impression.
The piano part is easy to play and beautiful, making it ideal not only for nurseries and kindergartens but also for parent-child sing-alongs.
The song depicts a small child gazing at the moon, thinking and chatting, with a heartwarming exchange with a friendly cloud.
With its soul-cleansing quality, this song lets adults return to a childlike state and enjoy a moment of calm.
How many moons are there?warabeuta
The lullaby-style moon song “Otsuki-san Ikutsu” is beloved by many.
Its gentle, unhurried melody is perfect for lulling little ones to sleep and suits a moonlit night where the moon’s light softly shines.
The lyrics begin by asking the moon its age and then unfold into various stories.
The words vary slightly by region; in Yamaguchi Prefecture, for example, it’s sung as “Atosama Nanbo” instead of addressing the moon.
Try looking up the versions from different areas and sing along!
Moon over the Ruined Castlesakushi: doi bansui / sakkyoku: taki rentarō
Many people have heard “Kojo no Tsuki” in music class.
In fact, the Tokyo Music School—later the Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts—commissioned the poet Doi Banshū to write the lyrics as a submission for a middle school song contest, and Rentarō Taki composed the melody.
It is also a historic piece that first incorporated elements of Western music in Japan.
Even after the age of the samurai came to an end, the moon remained high in the sky, continuing to illuminate ruined castles and the land below—a song that depicts such an era of rise and fall.
The lyrics may seem difficult at first glance, but why not listen while savoring the beautiful, classical Japanese language?
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 and the Little BoySakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao
“The Moon and the Little Boy,” which was also sung on NHK Educational TV’s “Okaasan to Issho.” The lyrics were written by Hachiro Sato, with music composed by Yoshinao Nakata.
When you look at the moon, doesn’t it start to look like something? The lyrics humorously compare the moon to an elephant’s eye, a rabbit’s ears, and a pig’s nose.
It’s a gentle song about the kindly moon that always watches over us.
Recommended for singing together while viewing the harvest moon with parent and child, or for group singing at kindergartens and nursery schools.