[Lullaby] Gentle masterpieces that soothe the heart—music box melodies to help your baby sleep soundly

Seven-year-old child

Seven Baby Crows — Nagayo Motoori <Healing 30-Note Music Box>

The lyrics were written by Ujo Noguchi and the music was composed by Nagayo Motoori.

It is one of the most well-known songs among Japanese children’s songs.

In the famous Showa-era variety show “It’s the Drifters! Everyone Assemble!”—a popular program featuring ghosts—Ken Shimura used it as a parody song, which became a hot topic.

Lullaby of the Chugoku Region

Lullaby of the Chugoku Region [Music Box]

It is a folk song handed down in the southwestern part of Okayama Prefecture and is one of Japan’s widely known lullabies.

It is said to have originated in Takano Town, Ibara City, and is an old lullaby passed down in this area.

In each region, lullabies unique to that land have been handed down and remain to this day.

Itsuki Lullaby

Itsuki Lullaby [Music Box]

It is said that there are lullabies sung to put children to sleep and songs called morikouta, or guardian-child songs.

The Itsuki Lullaby is one such morikouta; it is said that a girl working as a babysitter poured her feelings into the lyrics to console herself for her unhappy circumstances.

Lullaby of the Shimabara Region

Shimabara Region Lullaby [Music Box]

It is a lullaby handed down in the Shimabara region of Nagasaki Prefecture.

It is said to be a popular song written and composed by the author Kohei Miyazaki, who was born in Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture, based on the lullaby he sang to his child when he was raising the child alone after his first wife ran away.

Edo Lullaby

Lullaby Nen-nen Korori “Angel’s Lullaby” ~ Lul-la-by for the Beloved ~

This lullaby is a traditional one passed down since the Edo period.

Records confirm its existence during the Bunka-Bunsei era under the 11th shogun, Tokugawa Ienari, and it seems to have spread from Edo to various regions through processes like sankin-kōtai (alternate attendance).

I think it’s remarkable that a lullaby handed down from long ago still survives today.

Lullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzu

The Checkers - Lullaby of a Jagged Heart

It’s the debut single by The Checkers, released on September 21, 1983.

Although it sold very little at first, their second single, “Namida no Request,” became a big hit, and together with the momentum of their third single, “Kanashikute Jealousy,” all three songs entered the Top 10 simultaneously.

MoonlightClaude Debussy

Music Box - Clair de Lune - Debussy

Among the approachable pieces of the Suite bergamasque, the third movement, Clair de Lune, is the most famous of Debussy’s works and is notable for how often it is performed on its own.

It’s also recommended listening before sleep, letting the gentle light of the moon floating in the night illuminate your rest.