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Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs
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A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes—songs that make you feel happy when you sing them.

There are so many nursery rhymes that are popular with children!

There are songs about animals, songs about food, songs about the seasons—the themes are varied, and each song has its own mood.

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of especially cheerful songs from among the most popular nursery rhymes all at once!

We’ve gathered lots of songs that will put you in a happy mood whether you listen to them or sing along.

Please sample the songs we introduce below, and be sure to enjoy listening to and singing your favorites!

Playlist

A collection of cheerful nursery rhymes—songs that make you feel happy when you sing them.
show_chartTitlePlaylistOne point
1eastPicnic MarchLyrics: Takao Ide / Music: Nobuyoshi KoshibeA lively marching tune that makes walks more fun
2eastGhosts’ ChristmasTakashi DeguchiFun songs for Halloween and Christmas
3eastGhost Village MazeNontan and FriendsThe Ghost Maze Song with Nontan
4eastHalloween is not scary.Little AngelSing about Halloween frights and overcome them with fun
5eastGreen light from the blue skyWith a green light from the blue sky, toward a fun future
6eastLet’s go to the forest.A healing song that lets you feel the nature of the forest
7eastPicnicA rhythmic song that enjoys the sounds of animals
8eastyour smileLet's spread smiles with a lively song!
9eastWhen the Dock (Japanese knotweed) bloomsWhen the sorrel blooms, a cheerful spring nursery rhyme
10eastOne, two, threeJump over creatures with a good tempo and dance!
11eastThe Goldfish’s NapGoldfish Nap, a soothing song popular with children
12eastYaho-hoLet's have fun with kids by yodeling!
13eastLet’s dance, Ondo!A bon odori song everyone can enjoy, adding color to the summer festival
14eastThe stars are good friendsMe and you.Have fun with hand games! “The Friendly Stars…”
15eastMagic ShoesAn upbeat, fun song that conveys a desire to take on challenges.
16eastOh, the ranch is green.Let's move our bodies to the rhythm!
17eastA quiet lakesideA quiet lakeside, a song popular among children
18eastA Drop of StarA fun song with a bright rhythm you can dance to
19eastTwinkle, Twinkle, Little StarHand play with a song everyone knows! “Twinkle, Twinkle Li…
20eastIt will be sunny tomorrow.Yuichiro Hanada, Atsuko OnoGet energized by a song with a bursting, beaming smile
21eastRow the boatHave fun with the summer hand-play song 'Ofune wo Koide' (Row the Boat)
22eastMs. HimawariCheering on children’s growth with a sunflower song
23eastHappy ChildrenFun warm-up exercises at Happy Children
24eastI want to become the sun!Lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa / Music by Hirotaka NakagawaA heartwarming song cheering on children's futures
25eastGanbarappa☆GanbarūnAn upbeat, positive song to enjoy the summer
26eastThe Bento Bus SongLyrics and composition by Mariko ShinjuIngredient Bus, a song loved by children with a fun tune
27eastGenki OndoLiven up the summer festival with a lively Bon Odori song
28eastlittle starLyrics by Masuyo Tsuzuki / Music by Ikuma DanWe will present the long-cherished song “Ohoshisama” (The Little Stars)…
29eastLet’s go to the park.Lyrics and Music: Osamu SakataA warm spring song that transcends generations
30eastHaohaoA lively, feel-good song about ghosts
31eastPlaying bus (pretend bus play)Lyrics by: Yoshiko Kayama / Music by: Akira YuyamaA nursery rhyme about the excitement of riding a bus
32eastZebra SwirlZebra Round and Round, a Fun Rhythm Song
33eastLet’s have fun.Lyrics/Music: ShinapuPopular songs for babies, warm music
34eastA Rainy Day on the RanchA cheerful song of animals on a rainy ranch
35eastThey say they want to wake up feeling refreshed.Let's get moving energetically with a morning exercise song!
36eastYour ColorLyrics/Music: EdamamenzA colorful children's song, let's dance happily
37eastHey, Kaba-kun!Lyrics by Itsuko Nakagawa / Music by Hirotaka NakagawaThe charm of animals for children through hippopotamus songs
38eastLet’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Lyrics by Kazumi Itsuki / Music by Hajime KamishibaThe Appeal of Songs That Nurture Children's Dreams and Hopes
39eastHappy ChildrenToshihiko NiizawaA song where children's smiles spread happiness
40eastWhat color do you like?Lyrics by Osamu Sakata / Music by Yuki InuiThe charm of children’s songs that sing about the world of colors
41eastStory FingerLyrics by: Yoshiko Kayama / Music by: Akira YuyamaA heartwarming nursery rhyme to enjoy with finger puppets
42eastRoly-poly pill bugLyrics and music by Toshihiko ShinzawaA cute hand-play song for little creatures
43eastA caterpillarChildren fascinated by bugs in a springtime park
44eastGood morning!Sho FukudaOur hearts connect through a bright song, like the morning light.
45eastWhat is your name?Lyrics: Unknown / Music: Indonesian folk songA cheerful folk song to ease children's nerves
46eastChurippu sharippunursery rhymeConnecting children's hearts through nursery rhymes
47eastFound you!A song written and composed by Tortoise Matsumoto, and on NHK…
48eastHo! Ho! Ho!Lyrics: Akira Ito / Music: Nobuyoshi KoshibeA fun, uplifting song—let’s all dance together!
49eastIt’s fun.Lyrics: Kazuko Yamauchi / Music: Takahiko TerashimaEnjoying sounds and movements with friends in a choir
50eastUnder the big chestnut tree“Under the Big Chestnut Tree” This song is for adults…
51eastThere’s no such thing as ghosts.It delights the listener’s heart and lifts their spirits, …
52eastTwinkle, Twinkle, Little StarTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is a famous song that everyone knows...
53south_eastIt’s fun.Classic songs that children can enjoy singing
54eastChoki-choki DanceThis “Choki Choki Dance,” the dance and…
55eastVegetable SongEnjoy food education while playing with the vegetable song
56eastIce Cream SongAn up-tempo melody and a fun, uplifting…
57eastThere’s no such thing as ghosts.Lyrics by Minori Maki / Music by Akira MineA song to cheer up children who are afraid of ghosts
58eastLittle Errand AntSurely everyone is familiar with “Worker Ants on an Errand”...
59eastGhost Ninja Doron Doron DoronThe fun song of the ghost ninja is popular with children.
60eastGhost Fireworks OndoGhost Fireworks Ondo, a fun, Japanese-style song
61eastThere’s no such thing as ghosts.There are a lot of kids who are scared of ghosts...
62eastcarp streamerJust listening to it puts me in a happy mood: 'Koi no…'
63eastWatermelon-producing regionThose of you who heard the melody and thought, “Huh?” well…
64eastNumber SongWhen I was a kid, I used to sing this song to memorize numbers...
65eastI wish it were so.Popular even on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho”…
66eastSome kind of yokai?A yokai dance song to enjoy the Halloween vibe
67eastMysterious PocketWhen I listen to this song while I'm hungry...
68eastHaw, the Lost GhostA fun call-and-response song about ghosts
69eastsoap bubbleWhen I was a child, every time I made soap bubbles, I felt like singing…
70eastRabbit DanceA famous song released in 1924. The lyrics and composition are by “Shi….”
71east100% CourageThe famous song from the anime “Nintama Rantarō.”
72eastKing Kamehameha of the Southern IslandsIt was broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1976...
73eastUnder the big chestnut treeA song about playing happily together under the chestnut tree—that’s what this piece is…
74eastTo the Sun in the Palm of Your HandLively lyrics and an upbeat rhythm…
75eastSpring has come.I’m sure even elderly people sang it when they were children…
76eastThe Bear of the ForestWe also often had fun playing around with wacky parody lyrics of '…
77eastDog PolicemanI watched it on educational TV when I was little, and we sang it at school...
78eastDancing Rockin’ MonsterDance videos are popular, and the track is a banger!
79eastSong of Suihei-sanSuper Simple SongsA fun song featuring lots of sea creatures
80eastDoraemon: Make My Dreams Come TruemaoAmong the Doraemon theme songs you know, the newer one...
81eastHEROMomoclo-chan ZShimajiro the Movie: Shimajiro and Ururu's Hi...
82eastSun Sun ExerciseDreamingIt’ll make you want to start dancing with your kids right away…
83eastRed Hat, White HatKoyo KawamuraSet to a light, lively melody, two girls...
84eastHAPPY SONGFrom the song with lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa and music by Yuko Masuda...
85eastIt will be sunny tomorrow.Lyrics and composition by Osamu Sakata, for “With Mother and…”
86eastLet’s smile tomorrow.Lyrics by Shigeo Takahashi, composed by Sukima Switch...
87eastIn a flash!Lyrics and composition: This is a song by Tortoise Matsumoto. NHK educa…
88eastJaku-jaku AmanojakuLyrics: Mitsuhiko Fujiki, Music: Kumoyuki (Fukuoka…
89eastBeing human is niceIt’s a song with lyrics by Akari Yamaguchi and music by Asei Kobayashi…
90eastyou knowLyrics and composition: This is a song by Hayumi Takahashi. In nursery schools and…
91eastYokai ShiritoriLyrics by Okuhara Yume, music by Tane Tomoko, “O…”
92eastOfurosuki Counting SongA song written and composed by Kensaku Kobayashi, from a children's program...
93eastWhere is this mushroom?Lyrics by Morichiyoko, composed by Sacha Torte, and...
94eastrainbow-coloredAyakaA song that also became the theme for a morning drama, and the children...
95eastThe Bento BusImagining the lunch box as a bus, that bento bus...
96eastTomatotto…? Chili pepper — a vegetable shiritoriThis song is the theme music for the TV progra… broadcast on NHK.
97eastGood Morning SongAs a morning greeting song at daycare centers and kindergartens...
98eastCircle, triangle, squareWith easy-to-understand lyrics and a spacey vibe...
99eastToy Cha-Cha-ChaI used to sing “Omocha no Cha-Cha-Cha” when I was little...
100eastaye-ayeSince its release in 1962, it has been loved by many people...
101eastWhat shall we make with rock, scissors, paper?Speaking of children's songs, some of them are fun to dance along to with choreography...