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)
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?
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!
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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.
