Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherDr. Chick
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Nursery Teacher Mom WriterMoe Tsukada
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

When you hear “songs for January,” what kinds of tunes come to mind?

There are many, from those often sung in childcare settings and schools to classic pieces that have been loved in Japan for many years.

Here, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes and hand-play songs that you’ll want to enjoy with children in January.

Everyone has different experiences with the songs they’ve grown up with, so try talking about them with your family and friends.

You might even come across some songs for the first time.

These are all songs that can be enjoyed across generations and that we’d love to pass on to the children who will shape the next generation.

[January Songs] Nursery Rhymes and Hand-Clapping Songs We Want Children to Enjoy (41–50)

White RoadLyrics by Yoji Umino / Music by Antonio Vivaldi

White Road

White Road Lyrics: Yoji Umino / Music: Antonio Vivaldi

Yoji Kono has written Japanese lyrics for the second movement of Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in F minor “Winter,” RV 297.

It’s a gentle piece that evokes the image of warm spring sunshine and is very pleasant to listen to.

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Come, springLyrics by Somao Mikaze / Music by Ryutaro Hirota

♪ Come, Spring – Haru Yo Koi | ♪ Come, spring, come quickly. Little Mii-chan, who has just begun to walk [Japanese song/children’s song]

Spring, Come QuicklyLyrics: Soma Gyofu / Music: Hirota Ryutaro

The composer Ryutaro Hirota is also famous for pieces like “Koinobori” and “Sparrows’ School.” This song was composed in the late Taisho era.

The Mi-chan who appears in the lyrics is said to be modeled after the lyricist Gofu Soma’s eldest daughter.

With its charming melody, it conveys the feeling of not being able to wait for spring to arrive, and it makes the heart dance.

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frost pillarsLyrics by Ujō Noguchi / Music by Nagayo Motoori

Frost Columns Song: Yuko (Tomoko Nishikawa, Tomoko Yoshida)

Shimobashira Lyrics: Ujo Noguchi / Music: Nagayo Motoori

This is a children’s song that celebrates the pleasant feeling of stepping on frost heaves formed by the winter cold.

The fun crunching sound made when stepping on them in winter is expressed as “zakku zakku.” Even the sparrows that fly over seem to be playing by stepping on the frost, giving the song a child’s-eye perspective.

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Winter nightLyrics/Music: Ministry of Education Shoka (Monbusho Shoka)

Ministry of Education Song: Winter Night

Fuyu no Yoru Lyrics/Composition: Ministry of Education School Song

This is a children’s song created in the Meiji era as a shoka for elementary readers.

It sings of a beautiful winter scene with the outside covered in snow.

Though irori hearths are seldom seen nowadays, the song warmly depicts a family gathered around one, enjoying time together and keeping warm inside even as a winter blizzard rages outdoors.

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In conclusion

We introduced children’s songs and fingerplay songs for January.

January is filled with a New Year atmosphere as we welcome a fresh start.

We hope it will be a wonderful year for the children as well.

Becoming familiar with songs naturally exposes them to descriptions of scenery and emotions.

Let’s enjoy singing together with the children.