Rankings of Yoshinao Nakada’s Popular Songs [2026]

waves and seashellsSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao29rank/position

[Children’s Song] Waves and Seashells

Just hearing the title brings to mind the sparkling summer sea—“Waves and Shells,” a children’s song.

The lyrics were written by Mado Michio, the creator of many beloved nursery songs such as “Elephant” and “When I Become a First Grader.” Beaches are scattered with countless shells, aren’t they? Some are spiraled, some are beautifully colored—there are shells of all shapes and hues.

The song begins by wondering how they come to be.

Perhaps they’re formed by the movement of the waves and the play of light—this piece invites you to imagine and enjoy how shells take on their many forms and arrive at the shore.

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SAKI

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Penguin-chanSakushi: Mado Michio / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao30rank/position

Penguin-chan

This is a song featuring a penguin with a distinctly cool, refreshing image as the main character.

The tones evoke a sense of chill, and the vocalist’s voice also feels pleasantly cool.

It can be performed with instruments familiar to children, such as the glockenspiel and the guiro, allowing listeners to appreciate the interesting timbres.

It’s the perfect Antarctic “chilly-chill” song for cooling down on hot summer days.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Mother in the EveningSakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao31rank/position

Evening Mother (♬ The kanakana cicadas chirped in the distance) by Himawari 🌻 with lyrics | Children's song | Evening mom |

Another classic autumn song by lyricist Hachiro Sato and composer Yoshinao Nakada, the creators of “Kawaii Kakurenbo” (Cute Hide-and-Seek) and “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” (I Found Little Autumn).

This piece portrays the somewhat lonely scenery of an autumn evening and the warmth of a mother felt within it.

With the gentle, heart-penetrating melodies so characteristic of Yoshinao Nakada, it resonates deeply with listeners.

The work spread through radio and other media in the 1950s, and can be heard on albums such as “Yoshinao Nakada: Selected Children’s Songs – Kawaii Kakurenbo / Medaka no Gakko.” There is a touching anecdote that at Hachiro Sato’s funeral in 1973, all the attendees sang the song accompanied by Nakada himself on piano—an episode that conveys the depth of their bond and the special power of this song.

It is a tender, embracing piece, perfect for moments of thinking about family on an autumn evening.

Touch it, and autumn will feel lonely.Sakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao32rank/position

Touch it and autumn grows lonely — lyrics by Hachirō Satō, music by Yoshinao Nakada

Kinao Nakata, the composer of “If You Touch It, Autumn Will Feel Lonely,” also created pieces such as “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” (I Found a Little Autumn) and “Natsu no Omoide” (Memories of Summer).

He originally aspired to be a jazz pianist, but had to give up because his hands were small, so he switched to composing and produced many memorable masterpieces that have stayed in our hearts.

In the lyrics featuring autumn plants like chestnuts and balsam, you can sense the fragrance of the season.

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sasashina

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Tonton FriendsSakushi: Satou Hachirou／Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao33rank/position

[Children’s Song] Ton-ton Friends

In the new environment of kindergarten or nursery school, you’re sure to make lots of friends.

It will be a place where you laugh with different friends, sometimes get scolded, goof around, and create many memories.

You can sense a touch of anticipation in the music about what might happen.

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Araki Jakkan

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Kindergarten starting in springSakushi: Yoda Jun’ichi / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao34rank/position

[Children’s Song] From Spring: Kindergarten (with lyrics) / Lyrics by Junichi Yoda, Music by Yoshinao Nakata, Arrangement by Shirō Hayakawa / Entrance Ceremony, Events, Kindergarten / Piano Accompaniment, Singing with Piano

This is a children’s song that brims with the joy of starting a new preschool life along with the warm spring weather.

It features short, repeated phrases and a bright melody, gently conveying children’s anticipation for the kindergarten or nursery days ahead.

The lyrics were written by Junichi Yoda, and the music was composed by Yoshinao Nakata.

Loved since the postwar era, it has been included in many collections of seasonal songs, beginning with the album “Spring Entrance and Enrollment Songs,” released in March 2010.

It’s perfect as an introduction to ease the nerves of children at entrance or advancement ceremonies.

If the teacher plays it on the piano and everyone sings along or claps in rhythm, it will set the stage for a wonderful, smile-filled start.

Song of the cicadasakushi: satou yoshimi / sakkyoku: nakata yoshinao35rank/position

Cicada Song, childcare, kindergarten, piano, beginner, sing-and-play, sheet music

When you think of summer traditions, the sound of cicadas comes to mind, doesn’t it? Yet when you actually try to catch one and search with your eyes, they’re surprisingly hard to spot, so many people have probably relied on their calls to find them.

In this “Song of the Cicada,” the cicadas’ distinctive calls and the process of locating them by sound are depicted.

It sounds fun to go cicada hunting while singing this song, doesn’t it?