Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
Do you like winter?Although winter is very cold, there are many unique ways to enjoy it: you can see a beautiful silver world created by pure white snow, and you can feel a special kind of warmth you can only experience in winter, like hot pot dishes or sitting in a kamakura snow hut.There are also lots of fun events like Christmas and New Year’s!Children are probably looking forward to making snowmen, having snowball fights, and enjoying Christmas presents and cakes, aren’t they?In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes, folk songs, traditional children’s songs, and hand-play songs themed around various aspects of “winter.”There are many songs that will turn a winter that’s “just cold” into wonderful memories, so please give them a listen!
Collection of winter children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Fun winter hand-play songs too (1–10)
The Snowman’s MagicNEW!
The fun of building a snowman—and the bittersweet feeling when it eventually melts—is a special experience unique to winter.
Broadcast as the January 2007 song on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” this piece was performed by Yuzo Imai and Shoko Haida.
It was also included on the album “NHK Okaasan to Issho: Latest Best—Kimi no Koe,” released in October of the same year, and has been loved for a long time.
Listen to it at the end of winter, and you’ll surely find yourself eagerly awaiting spring.
Enjoy it slowly with your child as you picture the scenes together!
white friend(s)NEW!
Shiroi Tomodachi (“White Friends”) charmingly captures the sensibility of calling snow a “friend.” Written and composed by Osamu Sakata, it gently portrays joyful memories with snow and a farewell brought by the arrival of spring.
It’s not just about parting, but also imbued with hope for reunion, creating a heartwarming world that leaves a strong impression.
It was broadcast as the Monthly Song on NHK E TV’s “Okaasan to Issho” in February 2006, and was later included on the album “NHK Okaasan to Issho: Latest Best – Ie Yei!!” released in October 2013.
Let’s decorate with holly.NEW!
This is a song often heard around Christmas, featuring a melody from Wales.
Its cheerful rhythm and repeating phrases are very striking, aren’t they? The tune itself is old, dating back to around the late 18th century, and the current English lyrics became established in the 19th century.
In Japan, it’s also a winter staple, included in many children’s albums and loved by many.
It’s perfect as background music for parties with family and friends!
I like winter.NEW!
This piece was broadcast on “Okaasan to Issho” as the Song of the Month in January 1995.
The lyrics were written by Shinzo Higurashi, and the music was composed by Takeshi Shibuya.
Its rhythmic words capture the uniquely wintry chill in the air and the way we cool down warm food.
The bright melody leaves an impression, teaching us that there’s fun to be found even in the cold.
Give this classic winter song a listen with your child, snuggling close and letting it fill you with a toasty, heartwarming feeling.
during winterNEW!
This is a charming song with a gentle perspective that imagines what fans and wind chimes sleeping in the closet, and acorns in the soil, dream about during the winter.
It was broadcast on NHK E-Tele’s “Okaasan to Issho” as the Monthly Song for January 2017.
The song is included on the album NHK Okaasan to Issho Memorial Album Plus “Yakusoku Haaai!”, released the same year.
It’s a perfect piece for the season of eagerly awaiting spring—please enjoy it in a warm room!
peta peta pettankoNEW!
This is a very fun hand-play song themed around mochitsuki, a traditional New Year’s custom.
Children love the motions of pounding and rolling mochi to the rhythmic sounds! It first aired as the “Song of the Month” in April 2004 on NHK E-TV’s “Okaasan to Issho,” with lyrics by Kanako Suzuki and music by Toji Akasaka.
It was also included on the album “Kodomo no Uta Best 25,” released in September 2004.
It uses lots of onomatopoeia and is easy to remember, so even little kids can imitate it right away.
The Ball and the LordNEW!
A classic children’s song from the early Showa era, sung to a buoyant, lively rhythm.
With lyrics by Saijo Yaso and music by Nakayama Shinpei, it first appeared in the January 1929 issue of the magazine Kodomo no Kuni.
The song tells a unique story: a handball slips from a girl’s hands, jumps into a daimyo procession for the sankin-kotai, sets off for Kishu, and in the end turns into a mandarin orange.
It is very familiar in Wakayama Prefecture; in fact, it was once used as the onboard chime for the JR limited express Kuroshio to announce arrival at Wakayama Station.
As a New Year’s temari (handball) song, it’s perfect for enjoying with children while moving your bodies together.