Japanese shoka (school songs). Nostalgic tunes, songs of the heart.

A gentle green breezeHibari Children's Chorus

Children’s Song Medley, Shoka: “Midori no Soyokaze” (Gentle Green Breeze) — Hibari Children’s Choir 70th Anniversary Concert, Track 19 / #choir #chorus #children’ssongmedley #children’ssong

It gives a refreshing and very bright feeling.

A soft, springtime scene comes to mind.

Whether you’re in a meadow or by a stream, whatever you’re doing, a sense of comfort comes through.

It was at the 70th anniversary concert of the Hibari Children’s Chorus; they’re adults now, but their singing voices are still beautiful.

Summer has comeThe Peanuts

The Peanuts, Summer Has Come

It seems the piece was created quite a long time ago, but since we’ve been singing it at school all along, it doesn’t feel dated.

That’s probably how much it has continued to be loved.

Summertime traditions flit through the lyrics, breezily announcing the season’s arrival.

The Peanutts’ song choice was unexpected.

The unadorned harmony is lovely.

I found a little sign of autumn.The Bonny Jacks

Yoshinao Nakada: I Found a Little Autumn (Hachiro Sato)

I felt that this song captures the moments when, in the midst of playing or going about daily life, something you hear, feel, or see suddenly makes you sense autumn.

Maybe it’s called a “little autumn” because it’s a feeling that belongs only to oneself.

We often sang this song in the school chorus, too.

I think it’s a song that enriches the heart.

Watermill in the ForestMichiko Namiki

Forest Watermill — NHK Radio Kayō

It’s a lively, bouncy song.

It says, “Let’s work happily—the waterwheel keeps moving without rest while singing.” It feels like it encourages us, saying that someday our efforts will be rewarded.

The waterwheel is always working at a relaxed pace.

It seems this cheerful song was banned from release during the strongly wartime period.

That Town, This TownSachiko Kuboki

That town, this town♪

By the famed duo Shinpei Nakayama and Ujo Noguchi, this is another song that brings back memories of childhood, a melody I’ve long been familiar with.

That said, viewing it now through adult eyes, I can’t help but wonder how far these children must have wandered for the sun to set and the stars to come out—were they so completely absorbed in their play?

Blue-Eyed DollYumiko Uchida

Nursery rhyme “The Blue-eyed Doll” (nursery rhyme singer, Yumiko Uchida)

It is said to be a song about the first time American dolls appeared in Japan, meant to build friendship between Japan and the United States.

Do the lyrics, which depict the anxiety of coming to Japan and not understanding anything, also express, from a Japanese perspective, the bewilderment of not really understanding Americans?

Height comparisonSatoko Koga

Comparing Heights by Satoko Koga

I can feel the relaxed, close-knit bond between siblings from that era.

It also reminded me of the marks on our house’s pillar where we measured our height.

The second song, of all things, sings about comparing height with a mountain, which I found endearing.

I sensed Japan’s original landscape and a good, nostalgic time.