[Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.

autumn leavesLyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano / Music by Teiichi Okano

Autumn Leaves (Momiji) - Crown Girls' Choir

When it comes to quintessential symbols of autumn in Japan, “momiji” (autumn leaves) are the most iconic.

The sight of mountains dyed a vivid red by the fall foliage has long been a spiritual touchstone for the Japanese.

This is a traditional children’s song that celebrates that autumn scene.

There are many songs about autumn in Japan, but this one is among the most famous.

With the melancholy of an autumn dusk and the beauty of the maple leaves, it’s a masterpiece that makes you feel grateful to have been born in Japan.

Good evening, Mr. Moon.

[A Song for Plays] Good Evening, Mr. Moon

This piece features a gentle melody that even infants can grow fond of, along with distinctive lyrics that would work well for recitals or dramatic play.

The piano part is easy to perform yet beautiful, making it enjoyable not only in nurseries and kindergartens but also for parents and children to sing together.

The song describes a small child gazing at the moon, thinking and chatting away, and the exchanges with the friendly cloud are especially heartwarming.

With this cleansing, soul-soothing song, adults can return to a childlike state and enjoy a moment of calm and comfort.

Wild geese migrate.Suginami Children’s Choir

Suginami Children's Choir “Karigawataru”

This is a Ministry of Education song published in 1912 in “Elementary School Songs: For the Third Grade.” Unfortunately, the lyricist and composer are unknown.

It vividly captures the moment in autumn when wild geese migrate, with a melody that matches the poetic world and overflows with literary sentiment.

Kayano-KeyamaLyrics: Hakushu Kitahara / Music: Kosaku Yamada

Kosaku Yamada “Kayanoki-yama” Tenor: Hitoshi Hatano

Kayano nuts, which are roasted and eaten, and whose oil—extracted from the nuts—is used for lamps and as hair oil, are one of autumn’s seasonal delights.

The piece “Kaya no Kiyama no” depicts a grandmother roasting these kaya nuts over the irori hearth.

As the weather gradually turns colder in autumn, gathering around the irori to enjoy the flavors of the season is truly charming.

For those who had an irori at their family or grandparents’ home, it may feel nostalgic, and for those who have never seen one, the song may feel fresh and new.

The scenes evoked by the lyrics and melody carry a sense of nostalgia that fits perfectly with the quiet, bittersweet mood of autumn.