Rankings of Yoshinao Nakada’s Popular Songs [2026]

School of MedakaSakushi: Chaki Shigeru / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao8rank/position

Nursery Rhyme: The Medaka School

Spring is the season when living creatures become more active.

With that in mind, how about “Medaka no Gakkō” (“The Medaka’s School”)? Many of you probably sang and enjoyed it as children.

First broadcast on an NHK radio program in 1951, it gradually came to be sung across Japan and, within a few years, became firmly established.

In 2007, it was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Songs.

Listening to it conjures up images of medaka fish swimming in clear water and puts you in a peaceful mood.

It’s perfect for when you want to spend a laid-back, carefree moment.

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Araki Jakkan

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Summer MemoriesSakushi: Ema Akiko / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao9rank/position

Summer Memories [Easy Piano Sheet Music] Children's Song by Yoshinao Nakata – easy piano score

This work, which depicts the scenery of Oze, was broadcast on NHK Radio Kayō in June 1949, shortly after the war, and quietly spread with a sense of deep emotion.

Lyricist Shoko Ema was moved by the skunk cabbage she saw in Oze during the war and wrote the poem in response to a request for “a song with dreams and hope.” There is also an anecdote that composer Yoshinao Nakada once had to rewrite the piece after his mother called it “shoddy.” The song was featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta in 1962 and included in music textbooks.

Its nostalgic melody awakens memories, and the lyrics, which conjure vivid scenes, draw the listener in.

When played on the piano, the simple movement of the notes feels pleasant, and you can enjoy performing it at a relaxed tempo.

“Dance of the Natives” from Children’s Piano PiecesNakata Yoshinao10rank/position

Yoshinao Nakata: Dance of the Savages★

Though just one minute long, this powerful piece stands out among the 17 works included in the album “Children’s Piano Pieces.” Its strong rhythm, grounded in A minor, generates a distinctive sense of tension and vitality.

The work’s appeal lies in its striking melody: it employs a traditional Japanese pentatonic scale while exuding the vibrant energy of folk music.

It has been selected as a required piece for the PTNA Piano Step program and is well known at the Basic 5 level.

The hand-crossing technique leaves a strong impression on audiences, making it ideal for recitals and competitions.

This superb miniature captivates listeners with expressive flair while incorporating devices that draw out the performer’s technique.

Dance of the nativesNakata Yoshinao11rank/position

[Piano Recital Recommendation] The Dance of Aborigines ♫ Yoshinao Nakada / The Dance of Aborigines, Yoshinao Nakada

For a six-year-old looking for a powerful and cool piece, how about a work by the Japanese composer Yoshinao Nakata? It conjures up a wild, energetic scene, as if one were dancing and stamping the earth with vigor.

Clearly differentiating staccatos and accents will be key to expressing the piece’s dynamism.

In fact, there’s a record of it winning first prize at a competition held in 2004.

This piece is perfect for practicing dynamic contrasts and is recommended for children who want to play a slightly more advanced, cool piece at a recital.

a big drumSakushi: Kobayashi Junichi / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao12rank/position

[Song] The Big Drum (with gestures) – With Mother! ★ Kids • Nursery Rhymes • Hand Play • Children • Dance

This is a hand play song you can enjoy with rhythmic choreography that mimics drumming.

Created by Junichi Kobayashi and Yoshinao Nakata in January 1955 for NHK Radio’s preschool program “Rhythm Play,” it features an appealing, easy-to-follow melody that expresses the sounds of a big drum and a small drum.

There are also cover versions by Shoko Haida and characters from “Inai Inai Baa!,” and it’s loved across generations.

The structure alternates between the sounds of the big drum and the small drum, packed with ideas that help children naturally grow familiar with music through hand play.

If you sing it while making drumming motions, you’re sure to have a great time.

A Town Where It SnowsSakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao13rank/position

A Town Where Snow Falls / Tokyo Broadcasting Children's Chorus [Asahi Sonorama Edition]

Yuki no Furu Machi o is a slightly melancholic children’s song that depicts a town where cold snow falls.

First introduced in 1951 as an insert song for the radio drama Eriko to Tomo ni broadcast on NHK Radio, it has a long history.

It was later featured on Minna no Uta, which helped it gain wider recognition.

Winter’s chill has a way of making us feel lonelier and more desolate than in other seasons, stirring a bittersweet mood.

This subtly mature children’s song expresses the hope that such feelings will drift away with the cold winter wind as we move toward the warmth of spring.

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SAKI

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speed carNakata Yoshinao14rank/position

[Recommended for Piano Recitals] Speedy Car ♫ Yoshinao Nakada / The Speedy Car, Yoshinao Nakada

This piece, often used as a piano practice work, is filled with a crisp rhythm and a lively sense of momentum.

It vividly evokes the feeling of a car speeding down the road, and it’s the kind of music that makes you smile as you play.

The effective use of performance markings such as accents and staccato makes it a compelling piece for learning technical elements like rhythmic precision and varied touch.

It’s a perfect choice for a boy to perform at a piano recital, inviting him to imagine scenes as he plays and capturing the audience’s hearts.

Highly recommended for those who want to create an energetic stage presence or develop expressive power through music.