Ranking of Popular Folk Songs
That nostalgic melody, passed down through generations—the heart of our hometowns.
We’ve researched a wide range of folk songs from past to present, from East to West! In this article, we’ve selected popular tracks based on reliable feedback from music fans who’ve contributed to our site so far.
Among them, we’ll introduce the most acclaimed ones in a ranked format.
Please take a look.
We also researched children’s songs like nursery rhymes and lullabies, as well as work songs and songs for ceremonies and events.
In recent years, new ways of listening to folk music—championed by acts like Minyo Crusaders and Riyō Sanmyaku—have been attracting a fresh audience.
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Folk Song Popularity Ranking (11–20)
mushroomSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Kurakake Shōji15rank/position
A song whose lyrics, evoking nature’s vitality through the quiet growth of mushrooms, resonate deeply.
Its melody is easy for children to remember.
The poetic world of Michio Mado is beautifully expressed and matches perfectly with Shoji Kurakake’s musical style.
As a beloved nursery song in preschools and kindergartens, it’s perfect for nurturing children’s sensitivity.
Humming it during autumn nature observation, walks, or field trips may further deepen children’s interest in mushrooms and the creatures of the forest.
Spring has come.sakushi: takano tatsuyuki / sakkyoku: okano teiichi16rank/position
When it comes to spring songs and children’s songs, many people probably think of this one first.
The song “Haru ga Kita” (Spring Has Come) has a long history; it was released in 1910, in the 45th year of the Meiji era, and is widely known and sung by both children and adults as one of the quintessential songs of spring.
It has also been selected for the ‘100 Best Japanese Songs,’ a list featuring songs meant to be enjoyed by parents and children and to be passed down for generations.
The song has three verses, a relaxed tempo, and simple lyrics, making it easy even for young children to sing.
It’s a springtime children’s song that grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy together.
gluttonous gorilla17rank/position
This song is a hand-play tune popular at nursery schools and kindergartens, featuring a gluttonous gorilla who keeps eating different foods one after another.
Because it also lets you express how the food is eaten and what it tastes like, it’s great as a teaching tool for young children.
At the end, there’s a punchline where an onion appears—but it’s all peel, so you can’t eat it.
You can incorporate any edible item into the lyrics and keep adding your own original verses, so it’s a good idea to include the child’s favorite foods.
TulipSakushi: Kondo Miyako / Sakkyoku: Inoue Takeshi18rank/position
It is one of the most beloved children’s songs in Japan, depicting a beautiful spring scene with red, white, and yellow tulips blooming in a row.
Miyako Kondo’s lyrics carry a warm message that recognizes diversity—“every flower has its own beauty”—and, together with Takeshi Inoue’s friendly melody, make it a tune that people of all ages can hum naturally.
It’s a perfect song for when you want to feel the arrival of spring or enjoy singing with children!
Yakiimo goo-choki-pa19rank/position
Beloved as a heartwarming winter hand-play song, this piece revolves around roasted sweet potatoes while incorporating the rock-paper-scissors moves of “Guu” (rock), “Choki” (scissors), and “Paa” (paper).
It has been broadcast on NHK’s children’s program “Okaasan to Issho” and has long been cherished as a hand-play song for young children.
Embraced by many as a song that evokes the seasonal feeling from autumn to winter, it is enjoyed not only in kindergartens and nursery schools but also at home.
While expressing the fun and warmth of eating roasted sweet potatoes in the cold season, moving the hands and fingers to the rhythm can also help nurture children’s sense of rhythm and fine motor skills.
Be sure to enjoy it together with the whole family!
Konkon fox20rank/position
This is a hand-play song where you make fox shapes with both hands.
When it comes to a fox’s cry, we think of “kon kon,” right? In this song, you sing that cry in various styles, like “quietly” or “cool,” and more.
Children can freely express the cry, and because its feel changes each time, they’ll wonder, “What will the cry sound like next?” and stay engaged.
At the end, both hands go on the lap to show a “ready-to-listen” posture, so it’s also a great song to gather everyone’s attention during transitions!
Popular Folk Song Rankings (21–30)
A Hazy Moonlit NightSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi21rank/position
A slightly hazy spring night moon—an oboro moon.
This song depicts a night where such a hazy moon softly glows.
Also featured in music textbooks, it was composed by Teiichi Okano, who created many famous children’s songs such as “Furusato” and “Haru ga Kita.” In the first verse, the lyrics describe the sunset sinking and the moon beginning to appear.
In the second verse, they portray how, on a night lit by the oboro moon, the forest, people, and even every sound seem veiled in a faint haze.
It’s a piece that romantically paints the scenery from a spring evening into the night.
