[February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!

Demon Parent and ChildLyrics and Composition: Hiroko Masuda

[Setsubun Hand Play] Demon Parent and Child ♪ With Lyrics & Movements ♪ For Ages 1–5 [Former Nursery Teacher Risa-sensei]

The hand-play song “Oni no Oyako” features a child oni, a father oni, and a mother oni.

As you do the hand motions, you sing about the size and look of each oni’s horn.

It seems the size and style of the thunder they carry also change depending on the horns.

The child oni, whose horns and thunder are still small, can only make a little rumble! Keeping the same basic choreography, you play by making the movements bigger or smaller to match each character’s traits.

It’s something you can enjoy together with moms and dads too!

Even Kaze-san.Lyrics by Kaoru Shibayama / Hachiro Sato / Music by Yoshinao Nakada

[Children's Song] Even Mr. Wind — Original Version (with Lyrics) / Lyrics by Kaoru Shibayama, Additional Lyrics by Hachiro Sato, Music by Yoshinao Nakata / February • Age 3 • Winter / Piano — Singing with Accompaniment

Here is a charming song with lyrics that personify the wind.

The lyrics were written by Kaoru Shibayama, with additional contributions by the renowned Hachiro Sato, and the music was composed by Yoshinao Nakata.

While the melody itself is adorable, what truly stands out is the accompaniment.

The piano accompaniment evokes a refreshing image of the wind, and simply listening to it conjures up the entire atmosphere of the piece.

Although it is a children’s song, it might be lovely for a singer to perform it with just piano accompaniment.

Plum blossoms and nightingalesMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)

plum blossoms and nightingales

Here is a Ministry of Education song that was published in 1911 for the second grade of elementary school.

It’s a cute and simple piece depicting a bush warbler coming to the plum tree in the garden.

Speaking of plums and bush warblers, you might recall the motif from hanafuda playing cards.

By the way, while plum blossoms and bush warblers often appear together as a metaphor for things that go well together, the “bush warbler” in this context is actually a Japanese white-eye.

It isn’t green, but rather a brownish or grayish color.

Knowing this little bit of trivia can make listening to the song even more enjoyable.

frost pillarschildren’s song

Finger plays for February. A nursery rhyme, “Shimobashira” (Frost Pillars).

In the cold winter season, you sometimes see columns of frost forming on the ground.

Touching them or stepping on them—there are many ways to enjoy this winter-only phenomenon.

This is a gentle hand-play song that depicts frost columns you can only see in winter.

The shape of needle-like ice gathered into bundles is expressed by layering your fingers in time with the song.

It then unfolds into a scene where the frost columns topple under the sun’s rays, conveying a touch of sadness.

The actions are simple—just opening your layered fingers—and it’s recommended to do it after you’ve actually encountered frost columns, as a way to recall the experience.

Choco-choco chocolateLyrics and Composition: Aramaki Shake, Takato Hirai, Kids Planner

[Hand Play] Choko-choko Chocolate [February] [Valentine’s Day] [Ages 2+]

In February, we shouldn’t forget not only Setsubun but also Valentine’s Day, which makes both boys and girls’ hearts race! The perfect song for Valentine’s Day is “Choco-Choco Chocolate.” When you think of Valentine’s, it’s got to be chocolate, right? There is a set of official lyrics, but if you change the shapes and flavors of the chocolate however you like as you sing, it becomes a more original song and even more fun! You can also enjoy it as a hand-play song by using your hands to make different chocolate shapes to match the lyrics while singing.

Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)Composer: Kosaku Yamada

Chiaki Nakayasu (soprano) Petchka (Pechka) Lyrics: Hakushu Kitahara Music: Kōsaku Yamada

Pechka, the Russian fireplace and oven.

Watching the fire burn on a cold winter’s day is truly soothing, isn’t it? Here is a song about that pechka.

It was included in the Manchuria Song Collection published in 1924 and was reportedly composed at the request of the South Manchuria Education Association for people emigrating to Manchuria at the time.

Since the winters in Manchuria were said to be very cold, this song must have suited the setting well.

In its final section, although the piece is in a major key, it employs chords from the parallel minor of the same tonic, creating a distinctive atmosphere.

Snow and ChildrenComposer: Unknown

Snow and Children

Snow and Children depicts children wishing for the snow to pile up.

The lyrics were written by children’s literature author Junichi Kobayashi, and it was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta from February to March 1962.

Its sound evokes a vast snowy landscape.

Dividing the singing into separate parts can create an even more majestic choral effect.

It’s a children’s song that lets you feel winter even when you can’t play outside, such as on rainy days.

Why not try singing its clear, translucent melody line, perfect for February when the midwinter cold is at its peak?