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

From among various shoka (traditional school songs), our studio staff present recommended masterpieces and popular tunes.

This is a nostalgic playlist that sings of the Japanese spirit.

Playlist

Japanese shoka (school songs). Nostalgic tunes, songs of the heart.
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	Osaka City Streetcar Song		A nostalgic streetcar song that sings of Osaka's charms
2	We Look Up to You with Respect		Published in 1884 and in 2007 designated as one of Japan…
3	puff		Composed by Peter Yarrow, and Peter Ball…
4	A Hazy Moonlit Night		Ever since it was published in 1914, it has long remained beloved to this day...
5	BELIEVE		The third-generation narrator of NHK's 'Ikimono Chikyuu Kikou' (Living Creatures Earth Journey) is En...
6	Born on this planet		Lyrics and composition by Ryuichi Sugimoto; recorded on CD in 1996…
7	Dona Dona		The composition is by the American Sholom Secunda, and 1…
8	Spring has come.		Published in 1910, and in 2007 it was designated as a ‘Nat...
9	Momotaro		It was published in 1911. The lyricist is unknown...
10	Morning on the Ranch		It was published in 1932. Located in Fukushima Prefecture…
11	Ride a hot air balloon to the ends of the earthSumida Children’s Choir		The lyrics are by Tatsuwo Higashi, and the music is by Kokusyu Hirayoshi; it is a two-part choral piece…
12	The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomMasako Kawada		I hear it’s inspired by Shizuoka’s mandarin orange orchards, and from the hill…
13	The Mountain Hut’s LightToshiro Omi		The orthodox singing style is pleasant to listen to. Ho...
14	autumn leaves (momiji)Yoko Seri		The work was apparently published in the Meiji era, so it’s quite old...
15	Spring Stream		Published in 1912 and for over a hundred years…
16	sand hillKiyoshi Atsumi		When you mention Atsumi-san, I can’t help but think of Tora-san, so...
17	Summer MemoriesShoko Haida		The place name Oze, and the flower called skunk cabbage (mizubashō)…
18	Mount Fuji		It was published in 1911. In 2007...
19	We are children of the sea.		Published in 1910, and in 2007 it was designated as a ‘Nat...
20	Ballad of the MonstersSumida Children’s Choir		The song, released in 1972, has lyrics written by Fumi Okada…
21	OompapaSuginami Children’s Choir		The song that appears in the musical Oliver!...
22	hometownsong		Sing about the scenery of my hometown and my feelings for my family
23	Flower		Composed by Rentarō Taki, a representative musician of the Meiji era, ...
24	snow		Published in 1911, with the lyricist and composer unknown…
25	rabbit		It was released in 1982. At the time, the school edu...
26	snail		It was released in 1911, but the lyrics and music...
27	Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri/Girls’ Day)		It was released in 1933. Lately, I often hear it...
28	winter scenery		It was published in 1913. In 2007...
29	Evening Glow (Yuyake Koyake)		Lyrics published in 1919 were set to music in 1923...
30	hometown		It was published in 1914. In childhood…
31	the Hinomaru flag		It was published in 1911. In 1941, …
32	sea		It was released in 1913, but the lyrics and music...
33	koinobori (carp streamers)		Published in 1913. A carp swimming through the sky...
34	pigeon		It was published in 1911. In 1941...
35	COSMOS		Lyrics and composition by Mimas. In 2000, by Yutaka Tomizawa...
36	The Bell of Peace		Lyrics and composition by the singer-songwriter Nakasato Sachi…
37	Sugarcane field		Lyrics and composition by Naohiko Terashima, inspired by a visit to Okinawa…
38	Green Green		In 1963, an American folk group, …
39	I found the first star		It was released in 1932. The lyricist is Akashi…
40	Sing, Bam-Bam!		As the theme song for a program broadcast in 1970...
41	Urashima Taro		It was published in 1911. In 1900...
42	tea picking		Both the lyricist and composer are unknown. 1…
43	A gentle green breezeHibari Children’s Chorus		It gives you a refreshing and very bright feeling…
44	Summer has comeThe Peanuts		It seems the work was completed quite a while ago, but...
45	I found a little sign of autumn.The Bonny Jacks		While playing or going about daily life, listening to...
46	Watermill in the ForestMichiko Namiki		It's a bouncy, fun song. Let's work happily...
47	That Town, This TownSachiko Kuboki		With the famous duo of Shinpei Nakayama and Ujō Noguchi, this one, too, is...
48	Blue-Eyed DollYumiko Uchida		The first time American dolls appeared in Japan...
49	Height comparisonSatoko Koga		I sense a relaxed, close-knit sibling dynamic of that era...
50	This roadTaeko Ohnuki		The impression I’d had from listening to this song up until then was kind of…
51	Desert of the MoonHako Yamasaki		I was surprised at first—Hako-san is doing this song?
52	Where does the morning begin?Atsuro Okamoto · Aiko Anzai		It seems to be a publicly solicited work created to encourage Japan right after the end of the war...
53	teru teru bozu (a traditional Japanese handmade doll hung to wish for good weather)Miyoko Hirayama, Kajiko Nakayama, Masako Omura		I used to sing it when I was little, and anyway, clear skies...
54	Raja MaharajaJun Togawa		Lyrics by Mikuko Fukuda, composed by Yoichiro Yoshikawa, “Mi…
55	Tsutomu from the Yamaguchi FamilyKozue Saito		Lyrics and composition by Minami Ranbou; in 1976, “…
56	I want to become the wind.Sapporo Kitano Children’s Choir		Lyrics and composition are by Miyazawa, the vocalist of THE BOOM…
57	Sakura, sakuraSuginami Children’s Choir		While boldly blooming across the entire sky, a children's choir…
58	Flower TownTokyo Tama Boys and Girls Choir		The lyrics were written by Akiko Ema and the music composed by Ikuma Dan; in the postwar period, it became a 1...
59	The dolphin goes splish-splash.Tokyo Broadcasting Children’s Choir		Lyrics by Ryuo Azuma, music by Shoji Wakamatsu, and elementary school lo…
60	Whispers of HopeTokyo Mixed Chorus		The composer is Hawthorne from the United States. The Japanese…
61	Harvest MoonYasuko Ukishima		I don’t think I’ve ever thought about the lyrics of this song before...
62	Early Spring OdeSaori Yuki, Shoko Yasuda		This song was also selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs”…
63	Let’s search for Tomorrow		The 1989 work with lyrics by Toru Hori and music by Tetsunori Osawa...
64	Tomorrow		Lyrics and music by Ryuichi Sugimoto; for NHK’s “Ikimono…”
65	There’s no such thing as ghosts.		Lyrics by Minori Maki, music by Yo Mine, for lower elementary school grades…
66	maple leaves		It was published in 1911. In 2007...
67	My Ballad		Matsui, who is popular for composing and arranging choral pieces for students...
68	young fox (kit)		The original song is a German children's song, and in Japanese...
69	foal		It was published in 1910. Number one is a foal...
70	Kantarō the North Wind KidMasaaki Sakai		The lyrics were written by Takao Ide and the music was composed by Wakako Fukuda in 197...
71	Happy HinamatsuriSatoko Yamano · Morinoki Children’s Choir		A heartwarming song that cherishes Japan’s seasonal traditions...
72	Plover on the BeachMasako Mori		It seems the coastline of Kashiwazaki in Niigata Prefecture is the motif. Quiet…
73	Choo-choo trainReiko Mizutani		Back in the days before even the Shinkansen existed, steam locomotives kept on...
74	King Kamehameha of the Southern IslandsSeiji Tanaka		Lyrics by Akira Ito, music by Koichi Morita. Warm…
75	black kite		It was released in 1958. "Pinyoro…
76	To the future		Lyrics and music by Chiharu Tamashiro. It was released in 1998...
77	Harmony Traveling the Future		The 71st NHK National School Music Co… (Fiscal Year 2004)
78	Voices of Insects		Published in 1910, and in 2007 it was designated as a ‘Nat...
79	red dragonfly		Among the works for which Rofu Miki wrote the lyrics in 1921 is …
80	waiting in vainTomoko Miyamoto		The song seems to have been composed in the Taisho era, but domestically…
81	On the Day of Departure		The lyrics were written by Ko..., who was the principal of a junior high school in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.
82	Moon		It was released in 1910. 'Tankō-bushi' and…
83	Village AutumnChieko Baisho		I just thought it was a quiet and calm song…
84	Moon over the Ruined CastleMasafumi Akikawa		A majestic world evoked by Ms. Akikawa’s resonant singing…