During the New Year holidays, it’s easy to find yourself humming the children’s song “Oshogatsu.” By changing just a few words in the lyrics of this well-known tune, time with family and friends can become even more fun! In this article, we introduce parody versions of “Oshogatsu.” We’ve picked a variety of arrangements—from ones themed around New Year’s traditions, to self-deprecating jokes, to realistic versions with a touch of gloom.
Some will definitely feel relatable! It also sounds fun to create your own twist.
In any case, it’s best to welcome the festive New Year with a smile! Be sure to liven things up with your favorite or self-made parody lyrics.
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Parody Versions of the Children’s Song “Oshogatsu” | Funny and Not-So-Funny!? Check Out the Shocking Lyrics! (1–10)
Staying up late—A New Year spent sleeping
This is a parody song with the theme of a “sleep-in New Year” instead of the usual New Year! It’s a bit self-deprecating, but the lyrics are so relatable you can’t help but nod along—they’re really unique, aren’t they? If you worked hard leading up to the end of the year, why not treat yourself now and then: stay up late, eat mochi and New Year’s dishes, then take a nap—what a luxurious way to spend your time.
It’s also great as a party bit for New Year’s gatherings, so try memorizing it.
It might even be fun to make a third verse with your own original self-deprecating twist.
A timeless classic
Many people probably remember goofing around as kids, singing parody versions of the children’s song “Oshogatsu” (New Year).
Among the parodies, the classic is the negative version that includes words like “ambulance,” “died,” and “hearse”! Even though it’s New Year’s, I remember how those totally inappropriate words somehow got us really excited as children.
If you perform this parody in front of adults, you might get scolded, so why not sing it secretly with your friends and have some fun?
A New Year with poor vocabulary
Don’t you ever have moments when you can’t recall a word you definitely know? You’re there going, “What was it again? You know, that thing,” trying desperately to remember, but it just won’t come.
In this parody song, the singer loses their vocabulary—that is, they’ve forgotten the lyrics—and they replace every forgotten part with the word “are” (that thing).
If you don’t know the original song, you’d have no idea what tune it is anymore.
It’s funny because it’s a song about wishing New Year’s would come sooner, yet they’ve even forgotten what it is they want to come.
New Year’s gift money
@pa_mataisa A song about what kids are 100% thinking at New Year’s#Perma TaishoSong joke/skit#Comedy
♫ Original song – Paaman Taisa @ The person from “Morino Kuma-san” – Paaman Taisa
For adults, the long-awaited extended holiday… that’s New Year’s! But for children, what they look forward to is the New Year’s gift money (otoshidama).
In this parody song, that otoshidama is given special emphasis.
In the original lyrics, the flow is about enjoying New Year’s games like flying kites and spinning tops, but in this version that entire part is omitted and everything is replaced with “otoshidama.” A notable feature is how the word “otoshidama” is repeated so much that, if you converted the lyrics into money, it would seem like an enormous sum.
A laid-back New Year’s
https://www.tiktok.com/@_mitutomo_/video/6910386685087927553The children’s song “Oshōgatsu,” known for lyrics filled with childlike New Year’s games, gets a parody version crammed with adult desires to “enjoy the holidays to the fullest!” It starts with eating mochi, then moves on to crab, hot pot, and osechi, plus buying sale items and lucky bags… and finally outright declares a plan to laze around.
It even acknowledges what consequences that might bring—yet still puts a positive spin on it.
It’s a song adults can relate to, one that will make you look forward to the New Year holidays.
New Year’s when Dad is off work
@torofuwachun I can’t wait for New Year’s when Dad has time off.PomeranianWinter Break#Honestparody songWanko
♬ Original song – torofuwachun – Torofuwa
This is a song sung from a pet’s point of view, directed at their owner.
The pet really wants their busy owner, who works every day, to spend more time together, to pet them, and to hold them close.
You can really feel those emotions.
Many people take long vacations over the New Year holidays, and perhaps pets understand that too.
That’s why they can’t wait for New Year’s, when they can spend lots of time with their owners.
The way they scratch with their front paws, as if trying to pull the New Year closer, is just so cute.
Kumamoto dialect version
@kensho.5zb Aiming for 50,000 Kumamoto-dialect singers!Happy New YearSing-it-all-out Manparody songTranslationKumamoto-dialect singer
New Year’s – How many more sleeps until? (Music Box) – Music Box Sound J-POP
This is a version of the children’s song “O-Shōgatsu” sung in the Kumamoto dialect.
What stands out is the sentence ending “-tai.” In this case, “-tai” means something like “you know” or adds a friendly, emphatic tone.
The singer is male, but just using the dialect gives the parody a cute feel.
It might be fun to change the sentence endings to different regional dialects and sing it that way.
It’s an easy parody to imitate, so if you have a chance to go to karaoke for New Year’s, why not try singing it in your local dialect? It might be surprisingly exciting!