Popular Song Rankings of Monbusho Shoka [2026]

village festivalMonbushō shōka36rank/position

Village Festival (♪ The village guardian deity of the shrine ~) by Himawari 🌻 [100 Best Japanese Songs] with Lyrics Before and After Changes | Ministry of Education Shoka | Mura Matsuri

This piece, which portrays the joy of a village festival celebrating a bountiful autumn harvest, is loved by people of all ages, from children to adults.

The lyrics that depict the sounds of flutes and drums as “don-don hyarara” leave a strong impression.

Since it was included in an elementary school textbook in 1912, the lyrics have gradually changed over time, but it continues to be sung today as an important song that conveys Japanese traditions and culture.

When singing with older adults, it’s also recommended to clap along or move your body in time with the lyrics.

It seems like a fun way to exercise while reminiscing about the past.

scarecrowMonbushō shōka37rank/position

scarecrow

It seems that this song is actually a Ministry of Education school song published in 1911 (Meiji 44) in the Elementary School Songbook for the second grade.

The theme of the song is the scarecrow used to drive away pests like crows from rice fields and vegetable patches.

Thanks to this song, there are probably quite a few people named Yamada who ended up with the nickname “Scarecrow.” These days, there may even be children who don’t know what a scarecrow is.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Plum blossoms and nightingalesMonbushō shōka38rank/position

plum blossoms and nightingales

Here is a Ministry of Education song that was published in 1911 for the second grade of elementary school.

It’s a cute and simple piece depicting a bush warbler coming to the plum tree in the garden.

Speaking of plums and bush warblers, you might recall the motif from hanafuda playing cards.

By the way, while plum blossoms and bush warblers often appear together as a metaphor for things that go well together, the “bush warbler” in this context is actually a Japanese white-eye.

It isn’t green, but rather a brownish or grayish color.

Knowing this little bit of trivia can make listening to the song even more enjoyable.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Snowball fightMonbushō shōka39rank/position

Snowball Fight - Ministry of Education Song

This is a nursery song themed around the ever-popular traditional winter play: snowball fights.

It depicts children splitting into teams and throwing snow under a clear blue sky.

Because many lines repeat the same melody, it’s easy to memorize even for those who aren’t confident singers.

You’ll likely relate to the lyrics that capture that familiar moment when you suddenly find yourself getting seriously into the snowball fight.

It’s also recommended for February snow play, sports, and recreation.

Try singing it to a melody line that carries a touch of nostalgia.

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mutō

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My shoes are squeaking.Monbushō shōka40rank/position

Kutsu ga Naru (Children’s Song)

Since its birth in 1919 (Taisho 8), this Ministry of Education shoka—celebrating children’s innocent play and their endearing bond with nature—has been a warm, gently comforting work.

It portrays children holding hands and happily spending time together, evoking images of little birds and rabbits that soothe the listener’s heart.

Selected in 2007 for the “100 Best Japanese Songs,” it has continued to be loved by many.

It has been covered by numerous singers, including Satoko Yamano, Saori Yuki, and Shoko Yasuda.

How about humming it together with older adults in the warm spring sunlight? It will bring a bright, soothing moment filled with fond memories.

Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri/Girls’ Day)Monbushō shōka41rank/position

Hinamatsuri (Ministry of Education school song) / Japanese old school song “Hinamatsuri”

While the so-called “yo-na-nuki” pentatonic scale-based ‘Ureshii Hinamatsuri’ has a somewhat wistful melody, this ‘Hinamatsuri’ features a bright tone that lets you easily imagine children singing joyfully—a hallmark of a Hinamatsuri song.

It’s not a widely known piece, and many readers may be learning of its existence for the first time through this article.

It’s well known that the lyrics of ‘Ureshii Hinamatsuri’ were written with a mistaken understanding of the ‘O-dairi-sama,’ but please also note that the ‘Hinamatsuri’ discussed here follows the arrangement of the traditional hina display in its lyrics.

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KOH-1

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Close It, Open ItMonbushō shōka42rank/position

♪Close Them, Open Them

A children’s song that, despite being a foreign piece composed by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Songs.

Did you know that the original lyricist is unknown, and in Japan the lyrics have changed over time—used as a hymn, a school song, and a military song? Its simple lyrics, with no second or third verse and the same content repeated throughout, leave interpretation to the listener, inviting various readings.

In Japan, it became established as a children’s song after World War II, while abroad it is still sung as a hymn today.

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Hoshino Takashi

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