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 Rankings (51–60)
The Hungry Tummy Songsakushi: sakata hiroo / sakkyoku: onaka megumi57rank/position
When you’re dashing around full of energy amid the fresh greenery, it’s easy to work up an appetite in May! That’s when this children’s song—humorously portraying the hunger everyone feels—fits perfectly.
With lyrics by Hiroo Sakata and music by Megumi Oonaka, it was first published in a magazine in October 1960 and gained popularity after being broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in August 1962.
The image of a growling stomach so empty it feels like your belly and back might stick together makes kids laugh, and its lively, singable melody is part of the charm.
The choice of calling mother “kaachan” also conveys a sense of warmth at home.
When you’ve played so much that you’re absolutely starving, or right before school lunch, singing it might make the meal taste even better! Enjoy singing it during activities at preschool or on picnics, and have fun turning even hunger into a song!
Winter nightMonbushō shōka58rank/position
A Ministry of Education school song depicting warm moments spent with family on a cold winter night with falling snow.
Released in 1912, this piece richly expresses family togetherness around the irori hearth.
Though a blizzard rages outside, the house is cozy and warm.
You can picture the mother sewing clothes and the father telling old stories.
Featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” it has become a classic that lingers in many hearts.
Listening to it in the cold season is sure to warm your spirit.
A song that evokes a Japanese winter scene, beloved across generations.
Cha-Cha-Cha of the SnowmanSakushi / Sakkyoku: Tajiga Akira59rank/position
@hoiku_first Perfect fingerplay for winter! “The Snowman Cha-Cha-Cha ⛄❄” Let’s all become snowmen and dance together 🎵 The snappy rhythm will keep you smiling nonstop! ✨ We’re also taking requests for recommended winter fingerplay songs!Snowman Cha-cha-chaHand gamesWinter activitiesA day at the nursery
♬ Perfect for cute pet and child videos(1583669) – Takashi
Let me introduce a song that will make you want to move your body with lively energy to cheerful Latin rhythms! “The Snowman Cha-Cha-Cha” is a hand-play song with lyrics and music by Akira Tashiga, hugely popular in preschools and kindergartens.
Its fun progression—like a family growing as you build snowmen—and the catchy calls echoed in the title captivate children’s hearts.
The album “January’s Exciting Songs: Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs for Parents and Kids,” which includes tracks such as Junko Uchida’s recording, was released in August 2018.
You can clap along and strike poses to the music, making it perfect for indoor play on cold days.
It’s a classic winter song that teachers, friends, and parents and children can all enjoy together.
autumn sky60rank/position
Under the clear autumn sky, the song “Akino Sora” makes you want to sing.
As the humidity drops and a refreshing breeze blows, autumn is the perfect season for field trips and strolls.
In this kind of autumn, you can’t help but raise your voice a little, trying to send it far, just like in the song.
Like shouting “Yoo-hoo!” from a mountaintop, calling out loudly toward the beautiful sky is bound to feel great! If you sing out loud—and even give a shout—you’ll feel as refreshed as the autumn sky.
When you’re lucky enough to meet a pleasant autumn sky, be sure to try it just like in this song.
Folk Song Popularity Rankings (61–70)
Potato Digging Song61rank/position
Perfect for the autumn season, this song is a children’s tune about the fun of digging sweet potatoes.
Set to a bright and cheerful melody, it depicts children experiencing potato digging.
The call-and-response chant “Untokosho, dokkoisho” is memorable and really livens things up when everyone sings together! It’s often sung at autumn events and harvest festivals, and its simple, easy-to-remember lyrics make it enjoyable even for very young children.
Singing it before a potato-digging outing is a fun way for everyone to share the excitement.
Stroll March62rank/position
Osanpo March gets you excited right from the prelude! Autumn scenery can feel a little lonely, but when you listen to this song, it seems like you could happily step on fallen leaves and walk along.
Its lively, march-like melody is perfect for children—if you sing it before a walk, some kids might get so eager they can’t wait to go outside! The lyrics also feature various autumn sights and traditions, so it sounds fun to collect those things as you follow along with the song.
Use what you gather to draw pictures or make toys, and create lots of wonderful memories!
Donguri Korokoro63rank/position
The children’s song “Donguri Korokoro,” starring the acorns that fall all over the roads in autumn, has actually been around since the Taisho era.
It has appeared in music textbooks and was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Songs.
The story tells of an acorn that rolls and tumbles into a pond, where it meets a kind loach and plays together.
But the fun is short-lived; the acorn starts to miss the place it came from, and a sense of loneliness sets in.
Its whimsical world where an acorn and a loach play, along with the lively melody, is sure to delight even babies!