[Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.

The Hare and the TortoiseNajo Benjirō

Bunny and Turtle – Usagi To Kame | Hello, hello, Turtle, dear Mr. Turtle [Japanese Song / Shoka]

Do you know the famous fable “The Tortoise and the Hare,” in which a fast hare and a slow tortoise compete? This is a children’s song based on that story.

In the race, the hare, overconfident in its speed, ends up losing to the tortoise.

The tortoise, who doesn’t give up and bravely faces a seemingly unbeatable opponent, is a true hero to children!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

Come see me, Little Red Riding Hood!Keroponzu・Fukuda Ryūzō・Suzuki Tsubasa

Come See Me, Little Red Riding Hood! / Keropons, Ryuzo Fukuda, Tsubasa Suzuki

Here’s a song that playfully sings the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood from a fun, pop perspective, titled “Come See Me, Little Red Riding Hood!” Rather than a traditional tale, it feels more like an anime with a pleasant rhythm and lyrics sprinkled with modern expressions.

Even the wolf’s appearance isn’t scary at all, and there’s a sing-along section, making it super approachable.

It’s a powerful, happy piece overflowing with energy that lifts not only kids but adults too.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Murakami Shinpei

Report a problem

A bamboo shoot has sprouted.NEW!warabeuta asobi

May’s nursery rhyme “Takenoko Medashita”

A children’s hand-play song that vividly expresses the growth of bamboo shoots, which are in season from spring to early summer.

Through hand motions, kids enjoy the story of a sprout emerging from the soil, a flower blooming with a pop, and finally being snipped with scissors.

Because the rock-paper-scissors hand shapes—fist, scissors, and open hand—are naturally built into the actions, it’s also perfect for helping children learn the rules of the game.

Though it’s a traditional folk song passed down through generations, its introduction on children’s programs like those on NHK has helped it become a familiar group activity in preschools and kindergartens.

It typically ends with everyone chanting “Essa, essa!” together and deciding the winner with rock-paper-scissors.

On a fresh May day under the blue sky, get moving energetically with your family and friends!

cream stewNEW!Sakushi: Abe Megumi / Sakkyoku: Nakagori Toshihiko

Cream Stew [Hand Play]

When it comes to hand-play songs that make the process of cooking something delicious fun, this is the one! You can use your whole body to show preparing ingredients, stir-frying, and simmering, so kids are sure to love it.

Written by Megumi Abe and composed by Toshihiko Nakagōri, this piece is perfect for a bit of food education or a quick activity before school lunch, helping children learn vegetable names and mimic cooking movements.

Since being included in Abe’s book “Teasobi Uta Asobi,” published in June 1998, it has been cherished for many years in early childhood education settings.

If everyone pretends to cook together and then strikes a finishing pose at the end, you can share a sense of accomplishment.

How about enjoying a make-believe delicious stew with family and friends while feeling the refreshing May breeze?

The Bento Box SongSakushi: Kayama Yoshiko/Shokyoku: Komori Akihiro

[Hand Play Song] The Bento Box Song [With Choreography]

This is a very fun fingerplay song where you pack rice balls and all kinds of side dishes into a bento box.

Vegetables like carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and burdock root appear one after another, and moving your hands as you sing makes it feel like you’re really making a bento—so exciting! This piece is an arrangement of an existing playground song that Yoshiko Kayama and Akihiro Komori turned into a wonderful tune.

It became widely known after being featured on a program in the Nippon TV network.

Singing it while preparing a bento with your child might just make your usual routine feel even more special.