[Sky-Themed Nursery Rhymes and Songs] Children’s Songs Loved Across Generations

Children of the Sun and MoonV6

V6 / Children of the Sun and Moon

This piece was featured as the April–May 2017 song on NHK’s long-running program “Minna no Uta.” As the title suggests, it’s packed with nature-themed words related to the sky—like the sun, the moon, the universe, the wind, and the stars.

By likening it to the beauty of nature, it carries the message that everyone, each and every person, is beautiful.

It’s a song that leaves your heart feeling warm after you listen to it.

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Octopus SongMonbushō shōka

Kite Song (Ministry of Education Song) ♪ Fly, fly, kite — Kite song

Under the cold winter sky, the sight of kites catching the wind and soaring gracefully has long been cherished as a quintessential Japanese scene.

It’s a bit sad that we see fewer children flying kites nowadays.

During the winter break, why not enjoy kite flying together with your children?

Come, fireflyNihon warabeuta

Firefly, Come – Hotaru Koi | Ho, ho, firefly, come (Japanese song / children’s song)

Fireflies flitting about the dark night sky, glowing with beautiful light, are cherished in Japan as a symbol of early summer.

In Japan, the Genji-botaru and Heike-botaru species are especially famous.

Seeing fireflies makes you want to sing the nursery rhyme that goes, “Hoo-hoo, fireflies, come.”

Desert of the MoonSasaki Suguru

Desert of the Moon

Originally published in 1923, “Tsuki no Sabaku” (Desert Moon) was broadcast on the radio in 1927, later recorded, and came to be widely known as a children’s song.

Its lyrical lyrics and melody were popular at the time, and it has been sung ever since.

rainkitahara hakushū

♥♥ “Ame” (Rain) (雨) [Children’s song] (with romaji lyrics & translation)

This “Rain,” which begins with the words “Ame ga furimasu, ame ga furu” (“It rains, it’s raining”), is a historic children’s song released in 1919 (Taisho 8).

The lyrics were written by Hakushu Kitahara, and it contains many expressions that are seldom heard today.

Please listen to it while picturing the scenes of rain in Japan at that time.

dragonfly glassesHirai Kōsaburō

dragonfly glasses

Since its debut on NHK Radio in 1949 (Showa 24), it has been sung as one of Japan’s representative children’s songs.

It is said that the lyricist, Seishi Nukaga, wrote these lyrics after actually seeing children playing with dragonflies.

Try singing it together with your little ones.

pigeonMonbushō shōka

Pigeons (Hatopoppo) ♪ Coo, coo, coo, pigeons, coo, coo—do you want some beans? Ministry of Education school song – Pigeons

With lyrics so memorable that seeing pigeons in the city makes you want to burst into the “coo-coo-coo” song, this “Hato” is a traditional children’s song first published in 1911 and is still loved across generations today.

Its melody is easy for even small children to sing.