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

Cute fishmonger

Cute fishmonger

These days you can get anything at the supermarket, but this song is about children imitating real life in their play, and it reminds me how, in the past, vendors would come around selling tofu and fish.

Naturally, there were no issues with reducing waste back then.

Fish was wrapped in newspaper, and everyone brought a pot to buy tofu.

Donguri Korokoro

Donguri Korokoro

When I was a child, I didn’t sing it as “donburiko” but as “donguriko.” Since I learned most nursery rhymes just by ear, I didn’t really understand their meanings, but with this song I felt that even acorns had feelings, and that the loaches and squirrels were kind and helped them—a notion that resonated with a child’s heart.

Songs and picture books are important for nurturing emotions in early childhood, aren’t they?

Come, firefly

Children’s song “Hotaru Koi” round

A traditional children’s song that conveys the beauty of Japan’s nature to kids.

It depicts the glow of fireflies dancing in the summer night sky with a gentle melody and catchy calls.

The distinctive “ho-ho” refrain stands out, and it’s a song you can enjoy as a round.

Perfect for everyone to sing together during bon dances or cool summer evenings.

It’s a beloved piece across generations, from children to adults.

Why not spend some time feeling the changing seasons and touching the heart of Japan? Singing it with family and friends will make wonderful summer memories.

The gentle green breeze

Japanese children's song: Midori no Soyokaze (The Green Breeze)

What a nostalgic song.

When spring came, you could feel the rich green of nature with your whole body, and it brings back memories of a time when things like global warming and the aging, shrinking population still felt far away.

I think an attitude like Yuriko Koike’s—of reclaiming the green—is important.

Born during the high-growth era, I used to hum this song every early spring as if it were the most natural thing.

skiing

skiing

I don’t know if this song is widely known anymore, but it used to be included in school textbooks.

Back then, snowboarding didn’t exist, so winter sports were either skating or skiing.

The song celebrates the joy of skiing smoothly through a world of silver snow, and it was often used for parody lyrics.

It may be a bit rude to hardworking fathers, but I think children turned it into a parody about dads heading out to work early in the morning: carrying a lunchbox, wearing worn-out shoes—and the punchline was, “His head is 100 watts.”

Seven-year-old child

Children’s song: Nanatsu no Ko (Seven-Year-Old)

These days crows are called pests, but in children’s songs they’re portrayed as cute and as admirable parents raising their young.

Not just crows—animals really do risk their lives for their children.

In response to the question, “Why do they cry (caw)?,” there was a time long ago when Ken Shimura sang, “Because crows do whatever they want,” and I hoped people would take it as just a gag.

But it didn’t quite work out that way, and there were cases where it became an issue for supposedly spoiling the sentiment.

Itsuki Lullaby

Itsuki Lullaby Yamaguchi Yoshiko (Li Xianglan)

It’s known as a famous lullaby folk song from Kumamoto Prefecture, but in fact it’s more accurately a protective little song (komori-uta) sung by a girl who looks after children.

Because it’s sung in dialect, people who aren’t from the region may not fully understand it.

The lyrics that begin with “Odoma bongiri” tell a heartrending story of a child, about ten years old, sent out to work as an apprentice, who says they can go home when the Obon festival comes.

Despite this melancholic meaning, the word “bon” made for a catchy sound, and the song was even used in a curry commercial for the sake of the pun.