Children’s songs, school songs, and nursery rhymes with a river theme. Beloved classics about nostalgic watersides.

Children’s songs and school songs that entrust the babbling and flow of rivers to music are filled with a unique sentiment that deeply resonates with the Japanese heart.

From nostalgic tunes hummed in childhood to memorable songs learned at school, many people still remember river-themed pieces even as adults.

In this article, we introduce works that sing of the river’s beauty as it changes with the seasons and of the creatures that live in and around it.

Please enjoy as you bask in fond memories.

Playlist

Children’s songs, school songs, and nursery rhymes with a river theme. Beloved classics about nostalgic watersides.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Song of the RiverSakushi: Mine Akira / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao		Gently portraying life and time through the flow of a river
2	The river is calling.Guy Beart		A warm masterpiece that naturally overlaps with the image of one's daughter.
3	riverSakushi: Hayashi Genzaburō / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako		A classic song that overlays a river’s journey toward the sea with the journey of life, giving us the courage to believe in our dreams.
4	A Little Bear in the RainSakushi: Tsurumi Masao / Sakkyoku: Yuyama Akira		An innocent tale of a cub enjoying the rain
5	hometownSakushi: Takano Tatsuyuki / Sakkyoku: Okano Teiichi		A nostalgic hometown song, long of unknown authorship
6	The kappa knows.Sakushi: Sakurai Yoko / Sakkyoku: Sakita Hajime		A song where a kappa teaches water dangers in a fun way
7	Rivers in JapanKoperu no uta		An educational song about Japanese geography that involves singing and dancing
8	Sea? River? A mnemonic song about where fish livekawachan		An educational song that lets you learn, with a rhythm, about where fish live
9	It’s the sea, it’s the river.warabeuta		Play songs that nurture rich imagination
10	basket basketwarabeuta		The breath of Edo infused into play songs
11	A Day of the RiverSakushi: Shinzawa Toshihiko / Sakkyoku: Nakagawa Hirotaka		An adorable song about the everyday life of children playing by the riverside
12	KawanakajimaSakushi: Hatano Jūichirō / Sakkyoku: Koyama Sakunosuke		A valiant song depicting a historic battle
13	boatmanSakushi: Takeuchi Toshiko / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Mitsuyo		A nursery rhyme with the pleasant rhythm of Gitchirako
14	Watermill in the ForestSakushi: Shimizu Minoru / Sakkyoku: Yoneyama Masao		Spring’s hope as the waterwheel turns—energy for tomorrow infused into the music
15	Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari		Hibari Misora’s posthumous work depicting the river of life
16	Whose river is it?sakushi sakkyoku: Minami Ranbō		A song that conveys a river’s origins and importance
17	School of MedakaSakushi: Chaki Shigeru / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao		Medaka no Gakkō: Music Resonates in People’s Hearts
18	Friendly PathSakushi: Mitoma Yasushi / Sakkyoku: Kawamura Koyo		Holding hands with a friend on the way to school
19	FlowerSakushi: Takeshima Hae / Sakkyoku: Taki Rentarō		The spring classic “Hana” (Flowers), a masterpiece by HAGOROMO Takashima and Rentaro Taki
20	Our town is on the riverbank.sakushi: Mine Akira / sakkyoku: Hayashi Hikaru		A town of the high-growth era and a song of hope
21	From the unaccompanied female chorus piece “Even the Seeds Chirp”: Spring RiverNagoya Shiritsu Moriyama Higashi Chūgakkō		Nobutaka Takatomi set music to a poem by Santōka Bocho.
22	Song of Leaving My HometownMineko Ando		A hometown song with lyrics written by Ichishō Yoshimaru
23	The Valley of the Red RiverTōkyō Maisutā Jingā		A folk song that sings of a tragic love in the era of the American West
24	Let’s play by the riverSuzuki Tsubasa & Roketto Kureyon		A nursery rhyme by Rocket Crayon, the childcare worker
25	Waterwheel on the riverbankharayama katsue		A fun children's song sung in a circle
26	Spring StreamNihon Gasshō Kyōkai		A song with lyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano and music by Teiichi Okano
27	rivertsukumi kashi no mi shounen shoujo gasshoudan		A choral piece with lyrics by Genma Senke and music by Kunihiko Hashimoto.
28	Across the riverDizunī		Pocahontas’s iconic song that celebrates intercultural harmony
29	The banks of a wide riverKonsei Gasshōdan Kusatsu Kantābire		Scottish folk songs are popular overseas.
30	maple leavesSeri Yoko		Lyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano; a song selected for Japan’s 100 Best Songs (Nihon no Uta 100-sen)
31	Rasa SayangDick Lee		A song that adds Japanese lyrics to a Southeast Asian folk tune
32	running riverHāmonī Ochiai		A choral piece depicting the water cycle is popular in junior high schools.
33	Down the Mother VolgaHitotsubashi Daigaku Tsudajuku Daigaku Gasshoudan Humanite		Song of the Volga River and Russian Ships
34	Summer has comeTōkyō Hōsō Jidō Gasshō		A summer song, singing of early-summer scenery.
35	Afton’s flowKōbe Chūō Gasshōdan		Song by a Scottish poet, Afton Water
36	London BridgeFunabashi Sazanka Shonen Shojo Gasshou-dan		Mother Goose: The song about a bridge being washed away
37	fireflyManiwa Sae		A twilight scene where fireflies dance beneath the willows.
38	BeginningNagoya Shiritsu Shiroyama Chugakkou		Choral works by Naoko Kudo and Makiko Kinoshita
39	Song of the Small RiverŌsugi Kumiko		Kumiko Ōsugi sings the anime theme song.
40	MoldauAichi-ken Nagoya Shiritsu Shiroyama Chūgakkō		The famous piece “The Moldau,” a symphonic poem by Smetana.
41	Little loaches and little crucian carphibari jidō gasshōdan		A mixed chorus piece born from rice-planting songs
42	Bengawan SoloGusan Marutoharutono		A song that sings about the Solo River in Indonesian music
43	Waves of the Amur RiverTomakomai Gasshōdan		Amur River folk song, Red Army chorus
44	At the spring riverYougetsu no Fumiyuki		A love song that aired on Minna no Uta
45	Suwannee RiverNHK Tōkyō Jidō Gasshōdan		Composed by Foster for a Black troupe