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

Chubby Potato-chan and Tiny Potato-chanLyrics by Michio Mado / Music by Akira Yuyama

Autumn children’s song: Chubby Potato-chan, Little Potato-chan (lyrics by Michio Mado / music by Akira Yuyama). Chubby Potato-chan, what were you doing in the soil?

It’s a very adorable song that depicts a chubby sweet potato and a little sweet potato poking their heads out of the soil.

The lyric’s question—what were they playing at underground?—greatly expands children’s rich imaginations.

The composer is Akira Yuyama, who has produced a wide range of works since winning a music competition in 1953.

As this piece has been selected by Nippon Victor for seasonal projects such as “Songs for October,” it can be considered a representative song of autumn.

It’s recommended listening for the whole family after enjoying sweet potato digging.

If you sing while imagining “What kind of stories were they telling underground?” it’s sure to spark lively conversation.

waiting in vainLyrics: Hakushu Kitahara / Music: Kosaku Yamada

Machibouke by Himawari 🌻 with Lyrics | Shoka | Machibo-ke |

This work was created by the famed duo of Hakushu Kitahara, a leading figure of modern Japanese poetry, and composer Kósçak Yamada.

Based on an old Chinese folktale, it portrays a farmer who, after getting a taste of accidental good fortune, stops working.

It begins with a lively rhythm and a cheerful mood, but as the story unfolds, the once-rich fields fall into ruin, culminating in a bleak winter landscape—its hallmark progression.

The somewhat plaintive melody pairs well with the feeling of the season shifting from autumn to winter.

First released in 1924 as a children’s song, it was later broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” starting in August 1973.

The narrative draws you in deeply, making it perfect for savoring the lyrics on a long autumn night.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Let's have fun together!Lyrics and Composition: Ai Yamaguchi

Happy Halloween, everyone—let’s have fun together! 🎃 (Halloween song)

If your child wants a bright, fun party rather than a slightly spooky Halloween vibe, this work by Ai Yamaguchi is perfect! The song has a very pop, happy feel, so even kids who don’t like scary things can enjoy it with peace of mind.

True to Ai Yamaguchi—who started learning classical piano at age five—the irresistibly catchy melody will have anyone humming along after just one listen.

The lyrics feature cute ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns, capturing the excitement of receiving lots of sweets and having a party.

You can really feel Yamaguchi’s gentle affection for children.

Sing and dance together, and Halloween will be even more fun!

Song of Leaving My HometownLyrics by Kazumasa Yoshimaru / Music by German folk song

Song of Leaving One’s Hometown (Farewell, hometown, farewell, hometown…)

This is a classic song that brings to mind scenes of a distant hometown in the season when the autumn breeze seeps into the heart.

Originally a German folk song about parting lovers, it was transformed by lyricist Isshō Yoshimaru into an emotionally rich piece that sings of a bittersweet farewell to one’s homeland.

Through images of beautiful nature—like the murmuring of a brook and seasonal flowers—the loneliness of someone departing and their deep affection for home are powerfully conveyed.

The song was published in a songbook in July 1913, and in later years was also passed down in performances by Peggy Hayama.

When you’re away from home, you sometimes find yourself longing for the scenes of the past, don’t you? It’s a wonderful choice to listen to on a long autumn night while reminiscing about days gone by.

Mother in the EveningLyrics by Hachirō Satō / Music by Yoshinao Nakata

Evening Mother (♬ The kanakana cicadas chirped in the distance) by Himawari 🌻 with lyrics | Children's song | Evening mom |

Another classic autumn song by lyricist Hachiro Sato and composer Yoshinao Nakada, the creators of “Kawaii Kakurenbo” (Cute Hide-and-Seek) and “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” (I Found Little Autumn).

This piece portrays the somewhat lonely scenery of an autumn evening and the warmth of a mother felt within it.

With the gentle, heart-penetrating melodies so characteristic of Yoshinao Nakada, it resonates deeply with listeners.

The work spread through radio and other media in the 1950s, and can be heard on albums such as “Yoshinao Nakada: Selected Children’s Songs – Kawaii Kakurenbo / Medaka no Gakko.” There is a touching anecdote that at Hachiro Sato’s funeral in 1973, all the attendees sang the song accompanied by Nakada himself on piano—an episode that conveys the depth of their bond and the special power of this song.

It is a tender, embracing piece, perfect for moments of thinking about family on an autumn evening.

The Flowers in the GardenLyrics: Yoshishi Satomi (translator) / Music: Irish folk song

The Flowers of the Field | With Lyrics | Irish Folk Song | The flowers in the garden and the chirping of insects

Based on an Irish folk tune, this is a school song with lyrics by Yoshishi Satomi that has been sung since the Meiji era.

Its lyrics poignantly capture the loneliness of autumn as the garden’s grasses and flowers wither, and overlay that scene with the image of chrysanthemums that bloom beautifully despite the frost—an emblem of living nobly while enduring solitude.

The piece was published in June 1884 in the Ministry of Education’s Elementary School Song Collection, Part Three, and was later covered by artists such as Yoichi Sugawara and Rainbook.

It’s a wonderful choice for quiet contemplation on a long autumn night.

The song’s powerful message, nestled within its melancholy, will gently accompany the bittersweet feelings that come with the changing seasons.

Its somehow nostalgic, beautiful melody is sure to soothe the heart.

Apple Village NewsLyrics by Keisuke Yamakawa / Music by Takeshi Shibuya

Ringomura Dayori

It’s a heartwarming song that feels like receiving a share of happiness from a village overflowing with autumn’s harvest.

The lyrics vividly sing of scenes like apples turning red and the gentle joys found in everyday life.

The nostalgic imagery that unfolds wraps the listener’s heart in warmth.

Released in September 2018 as a recording by Saori Yuki and Shoko Yasuda, the piece is also included on the collaborative album Noriko Matsukura and Takeshi Shibuya.

The story that it was recorded at a jazz bar in Nishi-Ogikubo further speaks to the work’s cozy atmosphere.

Try listening on an autumn afternoon while sipping tea—it’s a perfect song for peaceful moments spent with the whole family.