Lullabies: children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Nostalgic songs for putting children to sleep.
Lullabies have existed since ancient times in every country—they’re songs for soothing children.
I’ve put together a list of many lullabies, from the kind you might have heard on NHK’s educational channel to arrangements of foreign folk songs.
I’m sure there are songs in here that you sang together with friends when you were a child.
If you listen again now with the mindset of returning to childhood, you might discover something new.
If you “struggle every time to put your child to sleep,” please try listening—and singing—these songs to them at least once.
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Lullabies: nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Nostalgic bedtime songs (1–10)
hometownTeiichi Okano
Composed in 1914 as an elementary school song for sixth-year students, this piece is likely known by nearly everyone in Japan.
Although it was not written as a lullaby, it would suit being sung as one.
Like Western lullabies, it is in triple meter.
Frequently heard in various contexts—such as train station melodies and commercials—this song could be considered a symbol of the Japanese spirit.
Singing it while savoring the lyrics might even bring tears to your eyes.
red dragonflyLyrics by Rofū Miki / Music by Kōsaku Yamada
When it comes to Japanese evening songs, I think many people immediately think of Akatonbo (Red Dragonfly).
It’s a dusk song loved across generations and regions.
Listening to it brings back fond memories of childhood, when I felt I had to go home for dinner.
It’s a song we definitely want to keep passing down to our children.
Above all, its gentle melody and lyrics that unfold such rich imagery make it perfect as a lullaby.
It’s also great for nap time.
Potapon's LullabyTokyo Heidi
Potapon’s Lullaby is a lullaby created by Tokyo Heidi, a sister creator duo known for their illustrations and animations.
It features Potapon, a tiny flapjack octopus living under the sea, as the main character.
Above all, its gentle melody and the dreamy, spacious sound are captivating.
Listening to it is so soothing that even mothers might drift off before they know it, wrapping you in a tender, cradle-like embrace.
Lullabies: Children's Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes. Nostalgic Bedtime Songs (11–20)
Lullaby of the Enchanted RiverYoh Yoshida
Magical River Lullaby, sung by actress You Yoshida and used as an insert song in Disney’s Frozen 2.
A soothing piece with a gentle, northern ambience, tenderly sung to an acoustic guitar accompaniment.
It’s very popular with young children, so kids who’ve seen Frozen 2 will likely be delighted to hear it as a bedtime lullaby.
Like this song, it’s a piece that can fill both mothers and children with a gentle warmth.
Nenyamoya
This song with the curious title is a lullaby often sung in the Tsugaru region, and the representative lyrics are said to be from the Hirosaki area.
It is also believed that the title means something like, “Where has the child’s caretaker gone?” In the past, there was a practice called komori-boko, where children who worked as babysitters were hired by farming households and were allowed to return home during Obon or New Year’s.
This fascinating lullaby, which reflects the social background of Japan in earlier times, also has historical value.
May these orally transmitted lullabies be recorded and passed down to future generations.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Speaking of children’s songs with a star motif that you want to sing at night, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is well known.
It’s a piece that gently sings about the beautiful stars floating in the sky with a tender melody.
It’s also taught for performance in schools on instruments like the melodica and recorder, so it’s nice to have children sing it a lot and learn the melody.
Originally, it was a chanson popular in France, and the title “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is a parody version.
The original song’s Japanese title would be something like “Hey, Mother,” and its lyrics are also deeply evocative—why not give them a read?
Lullaby of the FishLyrics by Hisashi Inoue / Music by Hiroshi Aoshima
This song, with lyrics by Hisashi Inoue and music by Hiroshi Aoshima, appears in Inoue’s picture book “Eleven Cats,” where the eleven cats sing it to lull a big fish to sleep and then catch it.
That said, as you know, fish don’t have eyelids, so it seems very difficult to tell whether they’re asleep.
I’ve heard that bonito and tuna can sleep while swimming.
Many lullabies overseas are in triple meter, but it’s curious that Japanese lullabies are mostly in duple meter.