Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song

Choo-choo train

Choo-choo Train Poppo Pochacco ver.

In the days when hardly any cars were on the road, long-distance travel was by train.

Airplanes existed too—still in the propeller era—but fares were expensive, so trains and ships were the common choices.

Back then, when there were barely any railroad crossings, we would always see locomotives on our way home from school and even count how many cars they had.

Even riding the train was something we did at most once a year, so that buoyant, singable feeling is well reflected in the simple verses of children’s songs from that time.

Sakura, sakura

“Sakura Sakura” Suginami Children’s Choir

Though the composer of this piece is unknown, it is one of Japan’s representative songs known internationally.

The lyrics, which sing of mountain cherry blossoms so veiled that one cannot tell whether it is mist or cloud, evoke the beauty of sakura in every Japanese person’s mind.

At Musashi-Koganei Station, the nearest station to Koganei Park famed for its cherry blossoms, the song is even used as the JR departure melody.

One, two, three, four, two, five

One, two, three, four, two, five

This traditional children’s song, beloved across generations, features a simple way to play: sing rhythmic number phrases while raising and bending your fingers.

It has been featured on NHK’s children’s program Nihongo de Asobo and is popular on video-sharing sites.

The piece has been carried forward in new forms by contemporary artists such as dmg’s “Ichi Ni San Shi” and Gen Hoshino’s “Ichi Ni San.” It’s a fun song you can enjoy with parents or friends while nurturing finger dexterity and a sense of rhythm.

Oonami Konami

Can you sing the jump rope song “Big Waves, Small Waves” all the way to the end?

Positioned as a staple song for long-rope jumping and Eurhythmics, this piece is enjoyed along with movements that express the motion of waves by swinging the rope widely from side to side.

By moving their bodies while singing, children naturally develop a sense of rhythm and cooperation.

It is also used in settings for children’s music education and emotional development, and is included in Kyoiku Geijutsusha’s elementary school music textbook “Ongaku for Elementary Students 1.” Many people may remember happily doing group long-rope jumping to this tune while humming it as children.

The lyrics seem to vary by region, so if you’re curious, be sure to check them out.

Goodbye, ankoro mochi.

Children’s song game “Goodbye, Ankoromochi”

A playful wordplay centered on the traditional Japanese sweets “ankoro mochi” and “kinako,” imbued with the wish to meet again, leaves a strong impression.

By singing with hand games and gestures, it nurtures children’s creativity and communication skills.

In nursery schools and kindergartens, puppets are often used to perform it so that children can enjoy their farewell time.

Passed down for many years as a traditional song, this piece has been included in numerous childcare-related books and CDs as a teaching material that supports children’s emotional development.

It’s also a recommended song for parents and children to enjoy singing together while experiencing Japan’s traditional culture.

From inside the bamboo grove

From Within the Bamboo Thicket | A Hand Play for Childcare (Ages 4–5)

A simple yet rhythmic melody, combined with hand-play and rock-paper-scissors, makes this an ideal song for nurturing children’s imagination and sense of rhythm.

In educational settings, it also helps improve communication skills, and its appeal spans all ages.

Passed down orally, the piece features subtle regional variations that reflect local character and culture—an interesting point in itself.

It is widely used in nursery schools and kindergartens and is beloved as a staple for hand-play songs and rock-paper-scissors games.

Horsetail shoots are poking up.

Nursery rhyme: Tsukushi wa tsun-tsun

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?