Nursery rhymes you’ll want to sing at karaoke: classic and popular songs everyone can enjoy together.
If you’re wondering what to sing at karaoke with your kids—what songs you can sing together—why not try choosing some children’s songs? Nursery rhymes and kids’ songs are great because everyone from children to adults can have fun together.
We’ve picked not only the songs children learn in kindergarten, daycare, and elementary school, but also popular tunes from TV programs for young kids.
These aren’t just for children—older adults at karaoke can join in and have a great time singing along, too.
Let’s support them so they can sing without feeling shy.
And of course, it’s perfectly fine for adults to enjoy them as well!
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Nursery rhymes I want to sing at karaoke: classic and popular songs everyone can enjoy (11–20)
School of Medaka
This is a children’s song that was selected for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “100 Best Japanese Songs” in 2007.
When you see medaka (Japanese rice fish), the melody and lyrics naturally come to mind, and you find yourself humming along—it’s such a well-known classic.
The lyrics, with their repeated phrases, are very pleasant and easy to remember.
Since everyone knows the melody and words, I think it would really liven things up if you sang it at karaoke!
tea picking
Many of you may have sung this song because it was in your textbooks.
In 2007, it was selected as one of the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” The song describes the scene of picking tea leaves.
Its history is old, going back to the Meiji era.
It first came to public attention when it was included in the 1912 publication “Elementary School Songs for the Third Grade.” There are also theories that it originated from traditional “tea-picking songs” that exist in various regions across Japan.
Watermelon-producing region
If you heard the melody and thought, “Huh?”, that’s right! The song “Suika no Meisanchi” (Watermelon’s Famous Producing Area) is actually based on the American folk song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” The lyrics to this version were written by Takada Sakuzo, who served as president of the All-Japan Children’s Music Association.
Many people likely sang this folk tune back in elementary school.
Even if you’re hearing it for the first time, it’s so catchy you won’t forget it after a single listen.
Whether you already know it or not, it’s a great song for kids and adults alike to sing together and have fun!
This road
Kono Michi (This Road), with lyrics by Hakushu Kitahara and music by Kosaku Yamada.
The lyrics of verses 1 and 2 depict scenes from Kitahara’s memories of Kita-Ichijo Avenue in Sapporo—where the Sapporo Clock Tower stands and rows of acacia trees give off their fragrance—based on his trip there in 1925 (Taisho 14).
The second verse traces a route from Nankan in Kumamoto Prefecture, which Kitahara called his “second hometown,” back to Yanagawa in a palanquin.
Both are, it seems, beautiful roads in Kitahara’s heart.
Dog Policeman
“The Policeman Dog” is a song many of us watched on educational TV shows or sang at school when we were little.
When you think about it, the lyrics are actually quite quirky, but as kids we sang them as if it were perfectly normal.
It’s a cute song everyone knows, and you may find it surprisingly enjoyable even as an adult.
red dragonfly
It’s a song selected in 2007 for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” Composed by Koscak Yamada, its slightly sentimental melody set to a triple-time rhythm, combined with the beautiful, lyrical worldview of lyrics by Rofu Miki, instantly evokes nostalgia.
Listening while thinking of one’s hometown moves the heart deeply.
That’s only natural, as Miki himself is said to have written the lyrics while recalling his own hometown of Tatsuno City in Hyogo Prefecture.
Children’s songs to sing at karaoke: classic and popular tunes everyone can enjoy (21–30)
Roly-poly pill bugLyrics and music by Toshihiko Shinzawa
A fingerplay song that gently portrays the cute looks and movements of small creatures was created by Toshihiko Shinzawa.
With warm lyrics and melody, it depicts encounters with the little creatures often seen in nature, making it an engaging piece that stimulates children’s curiosity.
Featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in December 2024, this work includes creative elements that let children enjoy expressing the adorable behaviors of animals through hand motions.
It can be used in kindergartens and preschools, and also serves as a tool for parents and children to bond while fostering an interest in nature.
With soothing lyrics and an approachable tune, it’s a perfect song for making happy memories during walks and outdoor play.