Get pumped with popular songs from “Okaasan to Issho”! A collection of timeless tunes everyone will want to sing together

I'm here.Daisuke Yokoyama

With Mom Together: I'm Here

It’s a gentle, ballad-style song that not only comforts children but also reaches the hearts of moms and dads working hard at parenting.

There may be lonely or sad times, but it feels like the song is saying, “You’re not alone.”

A-I-U-E-O nigiriLyrics and Music by Saeko Shuu

A-I-U-E Rice Balls [With Mother] Yuzo Imai & Shoko Haida (covered by UtaSuta)

This song features a lovely melody and heartwarming lyrics centered on the theme of rice balls (onigiri).

Broadcast in April 2001 as the Monthly Song on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho,” Shū Saeko’s piece has continued to be cherished by many since its airing.

In early childhood settings, it’s perfect as an introduction to food education activities.

It’s a song you can enjoy in many ways with children—singing together while naming fillings, adding hand-play motions, and more.

Winter’s GiftAkihiro Sugita, Ryoko Tsunoda

Winter Present - With Mother (Together with Mom) - December 1999 Song

There are days when even adults get excited when it snows, right? You wake up in the morning, look out the window, and see snow piled up! This is a cute winter song packed with that fluttering excitement.

The lyrics comparing snow to whipped cream are lovely.

Once someone says it, it strangely starts to look that way.

And the squeaky “kyu” sound when you step on snow is definitely fun, too.

As you listen, you can’t help but feel, “I wish winter would come soon.” Be sure to check out this happy track.

Elephant ImaginationYuichiro Hanada, Atsuko Ono

[NHK] Elephant Imagination | With Mother [Children’s Songs, Nursery Rhymes, Fingerplay, Kids, Dance] Japanese Children’s Song, Nursery Rhymes, Fingerplay

The song “Zou no Souzou,” which aired in January 2020.

As the title suggests, it’s a lively tune where an elephant expands its imagination and discovers many things.

For children, seeing various things and imagining them can lead to lots of discoveries and growth.

I believe it’s a song that helps young children recognize that they are “using their imagination” with their own minds.

Whether it’s things with form or without, please enjoy letting your imagination expand infinitely!

The whale is listening.Yuichiro Hanada, Maya Nagata

A gentle ballad that feels very soothing, NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” Song of May 2024, “Kujira ga Kiiteiru” (The Whale Is Listening), is written and composed by Beautiful Hummingbird.

Beautiful Hummingbird is a duo consisting of vocalist Mitsuko Koike and guitarist Nobuaki Tabata.

With lyrics that depict the way sounds of nature connect—such as “the whale, the frog, and the wind are listening”—and a tender melody, the song gives a sense that everyone is connected.

The animation is by picture-book and animation artist Osamu Sakai, whose warm, picture-book-like visuals further enhance the song’s world.

Bento sausagesYuichiro Hanada, Maya Nagata

Obento Sausages ◆ Live-Action Dance | Okaasan to Issho | January 2024 Monthly Song / E-TV NHK

Obento Wiener is a fun song that depicts wieners anxiously waiting to see if they’ll be included in a field-trip lunchbox.

It was the January 2024 song on NHK’s Okaasan to Issho.

The lyrics and music were written by musician Wataru Hirano, who also contributes songs to other NHK children’s programs such as Inai Inai Baa! and Otousan to Issho.

The lyrics portray the wieners nervously waiting to find out whether they’ll be placed in the lunchbox along with other side dishes.

It’s a song that may spark children’s interest in food.

On the busKunihiro Taniguchi

Riding the Bus (With Mommy) | Working Vehicles Animation | Daisuke Yokoyama, Takumi Mitani

Once we get on our favorite bus and set off, we turn corners, ride over bumpy roads, and brake to a stop.

It’s a lively action song where you move big while holding your child on your lap.

You can play with your child while staying seated, so even moms and dads who aren’t so confident about their stamina can enjoy it.