Masterpieces that sing about play. Recommended popular songs.

Whale ClockSakushi: Seki Kazuo / Sakkyoku: Shibuya Takeshi

[Hand Play] Whale Clock ♬ <with gestures>

A fantastical song that fills children with excitement.

Its soft, warm, and beautiful melody blends perfectly with lyrics rich in storytelling.

First broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1983, it has remained popular, with reruns and inclusion on related albums.

The piece is also used in school music materials as a song that teaches the importance of time.

Listening to it during the rainy tsuyu season or on June 10th, Time Day, will surely put you in a gentle mood.

Singing it with choreography will further spark children’s imaginations.

The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms Bloom

Nostalgic hand game - The Hill Where the Mandarin Blossoms

This song was born in the era of hardship and confusion after the war.

Sayoko Iguchi and Masako Kawada sang it and released it on record.

Composer Minoru Kainuma is said to have thought of the prelude near Kōzu Station, where orange groves can be seen from the train window.

At the entrance of Fuji Sengen Shrine in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture, there are a monument inscribed with the lyrics of “Mikan no Hana Saku Oka” and a memorial to Shogo Kato.

That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky19

That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky

Released in 1999 as 19’s second single.

After being selected as the theme song for TBS’s “1999 Spring” campaign, it became a long-running hit, staying on the Oricon charts for 20 consecutive weeks.

Remarkably, just one year after their debut, they performed this song on the Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

365 Days’ Paper AirplaneAKB48

[MV] Paper Airplane of 365 Days (Short ver.) / AKB48 [Official]

It was released in 2015 as a coupling track to AKB48’s 42nd major single, “Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby.” The song was created as the theme for the NHK morning drama series “Asa ga Kita,” and its lyrics compare life to a paper airplane, conveying that the journey matters more than the outcome.

It’s also a popular song for graduation ceremonies.

Soap Bubble DaysAqua Timez

Aqua Timez “Soap Bubble Days” Music Video

It’s a song included on Aqua Timez’s second mini-album, “Nanairo no Rakugaki,” released in 2006.

As the album’s lead track, it received heavy airplay, and it was performed quite frequently even during their amateur-era live shows, making it a fan favorite.

Odoru Pompoko RinB.B. Kuīnzu

Odoru Pompokolin is the debut single by B.B. Queens.

This song, which is also the theme for the hugely popular anime Chibi Maruko-chan and is known across generations from children to adults, actually has a member from Osaka among its creators.

Because it’s so popular, it has recently been covered by a variety of artists.

Jaka-jaka rock-paper-scissors, pon!Folder

Folder - Jaka Jaka Rock-Paper-Scissors Pon

It was released in 1999 as Folder’s fourth single.

The song was tied in with Fuji TV’s Ponkickies segment “Jaka Jaka Janken,” and features a cool blend of soulful sound and rhythm-packed dance.