Ranking of Popular Folk Songs

Wish Upon a Star85rank/position

[30 minutes] Wish Upon a Star ♪ | Hand Play | Nursery Rhyme | Babies Will Love It | With Gestures | Dance | Kids | UtaSta Clap Clap |

We would like to introduce “When You Wish Upon a Star,” a song used in Disney’s film Pinocchio.

As one of the world’s most beloved classics, “When You Wish Upon a Star” is likely a tune everyone has heard at least once.

Try adding simple hand motions to the relaxed rhythm and beautiful melody.

The choreography follows the lyrics, making it easy for both children and adults to learn.

Consider incorporating “When You Wish Upon a Star” as this month’s featured song or as the theme song for your Tanabata event.

Snow KobōzuSakkyoku: Fushō86rank/position

Snow Little Monk Song: Yuko (Tomoko Nishikawa / Tomoko Yoshida)

This is a Japanese children’s song sung to the same melody as “The Spool Song.” The melody uses a traditional tune that is loved around the world, and when lyrics are set to this melody overseas, it is often sung as a song about spools or spinning thread.

In contrast, it seems that only Japan has set lyrics about snow to this melody.

Yokai Shiritorisakushi: okuhara yume/sakkyoku: tane tomoko87rank/position

[Full ver.] Yokai Shiritori – Includes up to verse 4 featuring Amabie and Yakushi Nyorai | Songs from “Okaasan to Issho” (NHK E-Tele) Daisuke Yokoyama, Takumi Mitani

Speaking of summer, it’s the perfect season for ghosts and yokai.

Haunted houses and ghost stories are also a quintessential part of summer.

Chilling ghost tales are nice for the hot season, but this song, “Yokai Shiritori,” is a cute tune that even kids who don’t like scary things can enjoy.

It’s performed on NHK’s children’s program “Okaasan to Issho.” In the lyrics, various yokai like the Rokurokubi and Zashiki-warashi visit a yokai professor and challenge him to play “yokai shiritori,” but he ends up losing.

Be sure to pay attention to the names of the yokai that appear in the shiritori!

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utatane

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Cute Hide and SeekSakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao88rank/position

♪ Cute Hide-and-Seek - The chicks go hop-hop in the garden, playing hide-and-seek ~ ♪ (with gestures)

Just imagining little chicks, sparrows, and puppies playing in the yard or on the roof is heartwarming, isn’t it? Even when they think they’re hiding, you can glimpse a bit of a yellow foot or a brown head—this nursery song depicts such charming scenes.

With lyrics by Hachiro Sato and music by Yoshinao Nakata, its rhythmic flow captivates children and doesn’t let go.

After it was broadcast on an NHK radio program in January 1951, it spread across the country in no time.

Its contributions through record production and more were recognized with the Minister of Education Award at the 1952 Art Encouragement Prizes, showing just how big the response was at the time.

It’s also a staple as a hand-play song where you move your body along with the lyrics.

On a warm spring day, try singing it with your child, as if you’re playing hide-and-seek.

Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Sakushi: Kazumi Kazuki / Sakkyoku: Hajime Kamishiba89rank/position

[Children’s Song] Let’s draw a picture in the blue sky

When you look at the clouds billowing in the bright blue summer sky, don’t they start to look like all kinds of pictures? From those clouds floating in the sky begins the heart-pounding, exciting adventure of the children’s song “Let’s Draw on the Blue Sky.” The lyrics are packed with the thrill of traveling around the world on a ship drawn by the clouds.

The lively shouts that appear in the song are sure to make kids want to imitate them! Look up at the sky and the clouds, let your dreams grow, and sing your heart out.

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The Snow PainterSakushi: Noritake Akihiko / Sakkyoku: Ando Takashi90rank/position

2015, Senior Kindergarten, January, Play, “The Snow Painter”

It uses a metaphor that snow falls and turns the world white, as if painted with white paint.

There’s an onomatopoeic expression for the falling snow, the repeatedly appearing keyword “white,” and above all, the gentle melody that you’ll want to remember and hum along to.

It’s a snow-themed song that adults should definitely listen to as well.

Adding simple choreography and dancing to it would be nice, too.

It’s fun to sing as-is, but it’s also great to let your imagination run with questions like, “What does a snow painter mean, anyway?”

spring breezeSakushi: Katō Yoshikiyo / Sakkyoku: Fositā91rank/position

Spring Breeze — Yoshikiyo Katō / Foster

A work that beautifully fuses Japanese tradition with Western music.

Its lyrics, depicting the gentle scenery of spring, and its pleasant melody tenderly accompany the listener’s heart.

Ever since it was included in the “Certified Song Collection” in 1926, this piece has been cherished for many years.

Scenes that evoke the arrival of spring—willow branches, kites, and the wind blowing through the garden—come vividly to mind.

It’s a perfect song for the start of a new school term or the kindergarten/elementary school entrance season.

Singing it with children will deepen the joy of spring, and adults, too, will enjoy it along with fond memories.