[Surprising!] A children’s song that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually…
Nursery rhymes we often sang as children in kindergarten, nursery school, or elementary school.
Among the ones we still remember as adults, quite a few actually originated overseas.
In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes with roots abroad.
We’ve picked out a variety—from songs that make you think “Come to think of it, that makes sense,” to surprising ones that have you saying, “Wait, that song too?” They’re all familiar across generations, whether it’s something you sang as a child or a song your kids are learning in nursery school.
As you listen, be sure to notice the differences between the versions we often sing and the original tunes!
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[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually (11–20)
We Look Up to You with RespectAmerika hasshō
As a classic graduation song, Aogeba Tōtoshi is sung across generations.
The lyrics express gratitude to the teachers who supported us and the friends who shared the same time, and depict taking those feelings to heart as we spread our wings toward tomorrow.
While the nuances and content of the lyrics are very Japanese, the song actually originated in the United States! The piece said to be its source is Song for the Close of School.
Like the Japanese lyrics, it evokes the day of graduation, but its melody, closer to a hymn, is wrapped in a more solemn atmosphere.
Watermelon-producing regionamerika min’yō
Did you know that this song with the catchy, upbeat melody is actually based on the American folk song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”? Around 1965, Mikuzo Takada wrote original Japanese lyrics, giving the song new life as a tune to sing at campfires and for recreation.
In 1977, it was included on the LP “From the NHK TV Program ‘Uta wa Tomodachi’ / Let’s Sing Fun Game Songs,” released by Victor, with Seiji Tanaka on vocals.
You can easily picture children in nursery schools and kindergartens happily singing this piece—and part of its charm is that it can be enjoyed together with hand games and choreography.
O BureneliSuisu min’yō
The Swiss folk song, known for its yodel-like chorus that echoes mountain calls and its lively melody, is in fact a prime example of a children’s song with origins abroad.
The original lyrics were written in 1910 by Swiss soldier-poet Zybeli, and the song has an intriguing history of traveling through the United States before reaching Japan.
In 1949, Minoru Matsuda produced a Japanese translation, shaping it into an approachable piece that depicts a dialogue with a girl living by the shores of Switzerland’s beautiful lakes.
Spreading alongside the rise of recreational activities during the postwar reconstruction period, the song became a cross-generational staple for campfires and school events, and it has also been featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.”
A quiet lakesideAmerika hasshō
A children’s song that depicts the quiet, beautiful scenery of a lakeside forest, it’s beloved as a classic that evokes the feeling of camping.
The original is said to be the American nursery rhyme “Sweetly Sings the Donkey,” which portrays a braying donkey.
In Japan, it’s commonly sung in a round while imitating animal sounds, and the original also features the donkey’s bray, showing its influence.
With a light melody that conveys a sense of nature, the song has been widely embraced, used for things like train departure chimes and commercials with adapted lyrics.
My Humble CottageInguranndo min’yō
Hanyu no Yado has been featured in various Japanese films, dramas, and commercials, such as Grave of the Fireflies, Massan, and Twenty-Four Eyes.
Based on the English song Home! Sweet Home!, it has also been beloved overseas, appearing as an aria in operas and in jazz arrangements.
The lyrics are largely the same in both the original and the Japanese versions: although one’s home isn’t a mansion and is quite modest, no matter what others say, it is the best and most wonderful home, and one feels proud of it.
It reminds us that regardless of country, appearance or size doesn’t matter—every home has its own kind of happiness.
Sky of my hometownSukottorando min’yō
It is a gentle school song that depicts gazing at scenery as the seasons change while thinking of people living in one’s hometown.
Using a Scottish folk melody as its original tune, Kenju Owada wrote the lyrics to complete the piece.
It is sometimes said that “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye” is the original, but these lyrics were not created together with the melody, and it is said that Owada wrote “Furusato no Sora” without knowing the lyrics to “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.” In Japan, “Furusato no Sora” has become established as a standard school song, but there are many other versions—such as The Drifters’ “Darekasan to Darekasan,” which further develops the lyrics of “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.” Comparing the different versions might be interesting.
[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes of overseas origin. Those familiar nursery rhymes are actually (21–30)
Flowers and Sunshine of a Spring DayAirurando kakyoku
This is a beautiful piece themed on eternal love, based on the Irish poet Thomas Moore’s 1808 poem “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms.” It vows unchanging love even if a beloved’s youth and beauty fade, and is said to reflect Moore’s feelings when his wife suffered from smallpox, singing of steadfast devotion like a sunflower that ever seeks the sun.
Japanese lyrics were created by music critic Keizo Horiuchi and included in Volume 2 of the “Irish Song Collection.” It is also used for Harvard University’s alma mater “Fair Harvard” and is beloved in the animated series “Looney Tunes.” Its gentle, lyrical melody is a perfect choice when you want to reaffirm your feelings for someone special or for a quiet moment surrounded by beautiful nature.