[Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
We’d like to introduce autumn nursery rhymes, songs, and traditional children’s songs that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
When you think of autumn, what comes to mind?
Pine cones, acorns, autumn leaves, moon-viewing… The more you think about it, the more images pop up, don’t they?
In this article, we’ve gathered wonderful classics that make autumn scenery unfold right before your eyes.
From gentle, soothing pieces unique to autumn that sink into the heart, to hand-play songs and traditional children’s tunes you can play and sing along with—these are all famous songs that let you experience autumn in many ways.
Be sure to listen together, sing along, and immerse yourselves in “autumn.”
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- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Autumn anime songs: iconic tracks for the deepening fall
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- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- [For Children] Recommended Nursery Rhymes and Traditional Children’s Songs to Sing in April
- [Moon Songs Special] Famous songs about the moon. Songs you’ll want to listen to under a full moon or in the moonlight.
[Autumn Children's Songs] Autumn songs, school songs, and nursery rhymes. A collection of masterpieces you’ll want to sing in autumn (41–50)
Rabbit, rabbitLyrics and composition: Unknown
Among children’s songs, this one falls into the “mystery” category because its lyricist and composer are unknown.
True to its cute title, it describes rabbits hopping about on the night of the harvest moon.
It’s said to have been sung in the Edo period, so it has quite a history.
There’s a legend that a rabbit is pounding mochi on the moon.
Could it be that the rabbit hops when looking at the harvest moon because its fellow rabbits are up there on the moon?
larchLyrics by Akira Nogami / Music by Hideo Kobayashi
It’s one of the famous choral pieces that were set as required works in the All-Japan Choral Competition and the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition (High School Division) in the 1980s.
“落葉松” is read as “Karamatsu” (Japanese larch).
Even with your eyes closed, the scenes rise before you—it’s a piece that speaks directly to the heart.
The poem by Akira Nogami already existed, and Hideo Kobayashi composed the music for it.
Deeply moved by the poem, Kobayashi contacted Nogami to ask to set it as an art song, but by then Nogami had already passed away.
Nogami would surely have wanted to hear it…
Child of AutumnLyrics by Hachiro Sato / Music by Yasuo Suehiro
Another autumn masterpiece by poet Hachiro Sato—also known for writing the lyrics to the children’s song Little Autumn Found—is Aki no Ko (Child of Autumn).
The song appeared in 1954 in an article titled “New Children’s Songs Almanac” in the magazine Asahi Graph.
The composer was Yasuo Suehiro, who was both a composer and a fisheries scientist.
Its lyrics, which evoke autumn landscapes and scenes of the era, combined with a gentle melody, give the song a melancholy sound while also conveying a warm, embracing feeling.
It’s a perfect piece for an autumn evening, especially when you want to calm your mind.
Homesickness on a JourneyLyrics by: Kyukei Inudō / John P. Ordway
This song that feels so distinctly Japanese is actually American—did you know? The original is “Dreaming of Home and Mother,” and in Japan it’s known as “Ie to Haha o Yumemite.” The Japanese poet Kyūkei Indō wrote the Japanese lyrics that helped it spread, and in 2007 it was selected as one of the “100 Japanese Songs.” It’s also well known in China under the title “Farewell” (Songbie).
It’s a classic that perfectly suits autumn, evoking the loneliness of dusk and a longing for one’s birthplace.
Give it a listen while gazing up at the crimson evening sky.
Touch it, and autumn will feel lonely.Lyrics by Hachirō Satō / Music by Yoshinao Nakata
Kinao Nakata, the composer of “If You Touch It, Autumn Will Feel Lonely,” also created pieces such as “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” (I Found a Little Autumn) and “Natsu no Omoide” (Memories of Summer).
He originally aspired to be a jazz pianist, but had to give up because his hands were small, so he switched to composing and produced many memorable masterpieces that have stayed in our hearts.
In the lyrics featuring autumn plants like chestnuts and balsam, you can sense the fragrance of the season.
little foxLyrics by Katsu Tsuneo / Music by a foreign composer
The children’s song “Little Fox” depicts a young fox living in the mountains, playing with the things scattered around it.
The melody was originally a German children’s song, to which different Japanese lyrics were later added.
It charmingly portrays the little fox enjoying itself in autumn, playing with maple leaves and various nuts found in the mountains.
But in winter, when the mountains are colorless with only withered leaves, the little fox feels a touch of loneliness.
Before that slightly lonely winter season arrives, why not, like the little fox, go out and have fun in nature?
Shichi-Go-San (the traditional Japanese celebration for children aged 3, 5, and 7)Lyrics by Junichi Kobayashi / Music by Masaru Isobe
Shichi-Go-San is a ceremony in which children, at the traditional ages of seven, five, and three (counted by the old Japanese method), report their growth to the gods.
Even the sight of children fidgeting in unfamiliar kimonos feels like a seasonal hallmark that evokes autumn.
The children’s song “Shichi-Go-San” clearly portrays the autumn scenery in which the celebration takes place and the children themselves.
It vividly depicts not only the children heading to the shrine under clear autumn skies, but also the surrounding plants, conjuring an image of their adorable, restless glances all around.