Children’s Song Medley: A playlist of classic and popular hits everyone knows

village festivalMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)

Nursery rhyme (Monbushō shōka): ♪ The village guardian deity of the local shrine—Village Festival

“Village Festival” is characterized by its lively, cheerful festival music.

First published in an elementary school music textbook in 1912, it has long been beloved and sung across many regions.

I used to feel a thrill every time I heard it, but in recent years, due to factors like municipal mergers making villages feel less familiar, it has unfortunately been disappearing from textbooks.

Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue OgreIsao Bito

The Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue Ogre # Isao Bito

This song, performed by Isao Bito—known for his husky, cool voice and rockabilly image—also drew attention for being featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta.

Unusual for a children’s song, it sets red and blue ogres dancing to a tango rhythm.

With its concept, music, and animation all tailored to children’s tastes, it became very popular.

yomogi-jōbu nochildren’s song

Spring children's song / For the April–May seasonal festivals: [Yomogi-Jobu no]. I'd like to play it to coincide with the festival.

It’s a simple song that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

You can almost see a nature-rich scene, with the fragrances of irises and mugwort drifting in the air.

It’s easy to imagine children energetically playing tag.

This work conveys the essence of Japanese culture, which has long cherished local customs and the power of plants.

It’s a perfect piece for cherry-blossom viewing in spring or for playing in nature.

How about singing it during time spent with your children? It will surely become a fond memory.

Singing while moving the body also seems likely to support children’s healthy development.

butterflyEuropean folk song

♪ Butterfly – Choucho | ♪ Butterfly, butterfly, alight on the rapeseed flowers [Japanese song / shoka]

Didn’t you often sing it in kindergarten? It’s a song that makes you want to sing when you see cabbage white butterflies fluttering in the spring.

Wrapped in the gentle spring sunshine and air, it’s a song you want to sing with your mother.

Please sing it while thinking of rapeseed flowers and butterflies.

Do-Re-Mi SongLyrics by Oscar Hammerstein / Music by Richard Rodgers

Children’s song “Do-Re-Mi” Peggy Hayama version

One of the signature songs from the musical “The Sound of Music.” In its Japanese-translated version, it’s a great song for learning note names.

Because you can easily memorize the do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do scale by singing it—and it’s easy to sing—it’s often performed in schools.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarLyrics by Jane Taylor / Music by French chanson

Kira Kira Boshi (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) | Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Japanese | @supersimplejapanese

It is a nursery rhyme loved not only in Japan but all around the world.

In English it is “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and the Japanese version is a faithful translation of the original.

It is also well known as a piano piece and is included among the early pieces in the Beyer method.

King Kamehameha of the Southern IslandsLyrics by Akira Ito / Music by Koichi Morita

[Popular Children's Songs for Summer Vacation] The Hamehameha Great King of the Southern Island / Minna no Uta (Covered by UtaSuta)

As soon as it appeared on NHK’s Minna no Uta in April–May 1976, it became instantly popular, so much so that it was rebroadcast just two months later.

The singer is Ado Mizumori, who was also well known as a TV personality and manga artist.

The Hamehameha Great King actually has a proper backstory: historically, Hawaii was ruled by a king named Kamehameha, and the Hamehameha Great King is said to be his friend.

People often mistakenly sing “Kamehameha” in the lyrics, but the correct word is “Hamehameha,” so please be careful.