[Warabe-uta] Beloved Classic Songs Passed Down Through Generations
Nursery rhymes that have been passed down in Japan since long ago.
There are many types of nursery rhymes, including drawing songs, counting songs, and play songs.
Many of you probably sang and played games like Kagome Kagome and Hana Ichi Monme at least once when you were children.
In this article, we introduce popular nursery rhymes.
If you want to remember the nursery rhymes you sang as a child or enjoy them with your kids, be sure to give them a listen!
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[Warabe-uta] Beloved Nostalgic Classics Passed Down in Song (1–10)
horse (childish/affectionate term)Lyrics by Yanagiha Hayashi / Music by Tsune Matsushima
This piece portrays a foal walking clip-clop alongside its mother, set to a gentle rhythm.
Lyricist Yanaha Hayashi is said to have written the words based on the scene of a mare and foal he saw at the Imperial Stock Farm in Chiba, weaving the affection between animal mother and child in simple language.
Composer Tsune Matsushima aimed for a vocal range and phrasing that are easy for lower elementary grades to sing, and created accompaniment that is easy to play on keyboard or harmonica.
After being included in the February 1941 national school textbook “Uta no Hon, Upper,” it continued to be adopted in textbooks by various publishers after the war, and in 2007 it was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” It fits naturally into kindergarten and preschool choruses, and it’s easy to incorporate into fingerplay or instrumental ensembles.
If parents and children sing it together, they can have fun imitating the sound of hoofbeats.
Horsetail shoots are poking up.
A masterpiece of children’s song that lets you feel the breath of nature.
Within its simple wordplay, it deftly weaves in the moment when plants sprout, offering the delight of a stroll through spring fields and hills.
More than lofty musical artistry, it’s the easy singability that has kept it beloved for many years.
It’s also enjoyed with hand motions and is widely used in early childhood education settings.
This work beautifully expresses the Japanese sense of the seasons and a heartfelt reverence for nature, making it enjoyable across generations, from children to adults.
Why not sing it together with family and friends, feeling the arrival of a nature-rich spring?
Churippu sharippuchildren’s song
A simple yet profound traditional children’s song.
The part where everyone stands in a circle and calls each other’s names is perfect for fostering communication skills and social development.
Its rhythmic lyrics and melody are fun and easy to learn.
In nursery schools and kindergartens, it’s often used to help ease the nerves of new children.
At home, singing and playing it together as a family is sure to create joyful moments from infancy onward.
When the spring weather invites you outside, why not gather in a circle and sing it together?
[Warabe-uta] Beloved nostalgic songs passed down through generations (11–20)
Where are you from?
“Anta-gata Doko sa” is a children’s song set in Kumamoto, Higo Province, on the island of Kyushu.
It’s a classic play-song still used in various recreational activities.
A common way to play is to do an action whenever the syllable “sa” appears in the lyrics.
One popular version—jumping forward on “sa” while hopping sideways—was even featured on the TV show ‘Itō-ke no Shokutaku.
’ Adults might find it fun to play, too.
fig carrot
One of Japan’s traditional children’s songs, widely loved as a counting song.
Its hallmark is a format that matches numbers with the names of ingredients or plants, and part of its charm is that the lyrics and melody vary by region.
Because children can learn words and numbers while having fun, it has long been used in educational settings.
It’s also popular as a hand-play song, helping to develop a sense of rhythm and fine motor skills.
Passed down through generations, this song is recommended both for adults who feel nostalgic and for children who can enjoy it with fresh excitement.
Inside-out pots!
It’s a children’s hand-holding song game.
In time with the song, players do half turns and end up back-to-back, making sure not to let go of each other’s hands.
Then, following the song, they return to the original position at the end.
It’s fun with pairs, of course, but the larger the group, the more complicatedly everyone gets tangled up, which will likely make the kids even more excited.
Many people will notice that the melody is very similar to Kagome Kagome.
In fact, it’s said that Kagome Kagome and Nabe Nabe Soko Nuke may have been made from the same original song.
Two children got into a fight.children’s song
The children’s favorite warabe-uta “Kodomo to Kodomo ga Kenka Shite” centers on the theme of kids fighting, with comical, friendly lyrics that make it memorable.
The song describes a quarrel that a pharmacist tries to stop but just won’t end, playfully portraying everyday life for children.
As a way to play, it features a distinctive motion of tapping fingers in sequence, so babies through preschoolers can enjoy it.
It’s perfect not only for nursery and kindergarten teachers but also for bonding time with parents.
Singing and playing together as a family makes for wonderful memories.