[2025] Bon Odori songs every kid knows! A roundup of fun festival tunes

Sea Festival Ondo

Sea Festival Ondo

A lively gathering of energetic sea creatures! Umi no Omatsuri Ondo, a bon dance song beloved by children, livens up the ocean festival with cheerful dancing.

Characters like octopuses, squids, sharks, and dolphins appear one after another, and seeing them dance together is sure to bring a smile to your face.

With lyrics and a melody brimming with love for the sea by Yukina Sugimura and Midori Sugimura, the song is cleverly designed so children can naturally learn the choreography.

At summer festivals or bon dance events, be sure to dance along with everyone! You’re sure to make wonderful memories.

Yosakoi Bushi

Yosakoi Bushi – Yosakoi Song

Yosakoi-bushi is a folk song that remains in Kochi Prefecture, with the refrain “yosakoi, yosakoi,” though its origin is disputed and not definitively known.

Since the Yosakoi Festival was first held in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, in 1954, the dance has gradually evolved; today it is characterized by performers holding naruko clappers and incorporating a variety of dance genres.

Festival Song

Festival Song by Ichiro Toba

I think it’s very good for children to learn lyrics that evoke the warm atmosphere of Japan.

The melody is relaxed, making it perfect for dancing.

Bon Odori is also an Obon event held when people return to their hometowns, so even the lyrics make it a song that perfectly suits summer festivals.

It’s a recommended song that can get everyone excited, from the elderly to children, dancing together.

Oba-Q Ondo

Oba-Q Ondo

This is a pioneering song in the anime-ondo genre.

It was created as the opening theme for the gag anime Obake no Q-Taro and became a huge hit, selling over two million records.

Since then, it has long been beloved across Japan as a children’s ondo song.

DB Ondo

DB Ondo [DB Comedian]

It might be especially popular with boys! It’s a Bon Odori song created by a gathering of the many Dragon Ball comedians.

You’ll see it in the video, but the characters are basically jam-packed and all over the place.

The lyrics are full of references you’ll get if you’ve seen the original manga or the anime series.

So not only kids, but parents, too, might enjoy it.

We hope you and your children have a fun, smile-filled time dancing together!

Yellow Submarine Ondo

Yellow Submarine Ondo

Yellow Submarine Ondo is a bold adaptation and Japanese-language rendition of the Beatles’ 1966 song “Yellow Submarine.” Released in 1982 as the 16th single by folk singer Akiko Kanazawa, it initially drew some backlash from Beatles fans in Japan, but went on to become a staple of Bon Odori festival dances.

It is also considered a pioneering example of a Japanese cover of a Western pop song.

Chanchiki Odesa

Chanchiki Odesa

Haruo Minami’s debut song, with which he announced himself to the world of popular music in June 1957.

It became a massive hit, selling over two million copies, and instantly propelled him into the ranks of popular enka singers.

The lyrics portray the pathos of men’s lives: migrant workers who have left their hometowns, downing cheap liquor at a back-alley food stall, their thoughts drifting to the distant places they came from, sighing over the helplessness of their humble lot.