![Popular Ranking of Ministry of Education Shoka Songs [2025]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/Mdid_SOHVj4/maxresdefault.webp)
Popular Ranking of Ministry of Education Shoka Songs [2025]
It seems that “Monbushō shōka” refers to the collective name for songs included in elementary school music textbooks compiled by the Ministry of Education from the Meiji era through the Showa era.
They’re all famous tunes that everyone has hummed at some point, and some people might be surprised to find, “Wait, this song is a Monbushō shōka too?”
Many of these pieces will probably feel fresh and new to those born in the Heisei era.
Popular Ranking of Monbushō Shōka Songs [2025] (1–10)
snowMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)1rank/position
This is a Ministry of Education shoka (school song) that sings of the calm and beautiful arrival of spring.
It was published in the 1910 collection “Shōka for the Ordinary Elementary School Reader.” The lyrics, which express the joy of spring visiting the mountains, villages, and fields, embody the Japanese people’s delicate sensitivity to the seasons.
The piece also showcases masterful use of particles—using ni to indicate the state of flowers blooming and de for the action of birds singing—conveying the beauty of the Japanese language.
Frequently sung at seasonal events such as the spring term opening and entrance ceremonies, it is a classic that perfectly suits those who wish to spend a heartwarming moment while feeling the changes of nature.
winter sceneryMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)2rank/position
The Ministry of Education’s song “Winter Scenery” depicts a day from morning to evening at the beginning of winter.
The first verse portrays a misty morning by the waterside, the second verse a daytime rural scene where wheat grows, and the third verse an evening village scene with light rain.
Sung to a beautiful melody, these landscapes evoke the gradual transition of the seasons from autumn into winter.
Each image described in the lyrics captures sights commonly seen at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.
Why not experience the gentle flow of time and the changing seasons along with this song?
Tea PickingMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)3rank/position
With its familiar and pleasant melody, “Chatsumi” (The Tea Picking Song) is a children’s song that naturally makes you want to hum along.
Even if the title doesn’t ring a bell, you’ll surely recognize it once you hear the tune! Although it’s a famous song, some people may not be sure of the lyrics when they try to sing it.
The song is written with beautifully refined Japanese language and sound, making it highly poetic, so this is a great chance to take a look at the lyrics and savor them!
Spring StreamMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)4rank/position
Accompanied by the gentle murmur of water, this classic song unfolds a simple, tender scene before your eyes.
Among the Ministry of Education’s school songs, its melodic line is especially beautiful, and it is said that Tatsuyuki Takano wrote the lyrics infused with memories of his home in Nagano Prefecture.
The delicate flowers blooming along the shore and the fish swimming in the brook are depicted as if in a painting, superbly expressing the quintessential spring landscape of Japan.
Since its inclusion in 1912 in “Elementary School Songs for the Fourth Grade,” it has been sung across generations.
It is a recommended piece for those who wish to spend a heartwarming moment—both as a song of memories and as a tune that evokes the nostalgic scenery of spring.
We are children of the sea.Monbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)5rank/position
When it comes to classic children’s songs about the sea, “Ware wa Umi no Ko” (We Are Children of the Sea) stands out.
First published in 1910 in the Ministry of Education’s Elementary School Reader as a song for singing, it has long been loved and cherished.
Although the lyricist and composer are unknown, it is considered a masterpiece and was selected as one of Japan’s 100 best songs.
The scene it depicts is the summer sea.
The lyrics are said to portray the growth of a boy raised by the seaside.
With imagery that evokes the sound of the wind and the sight of vast seas crowned with whitecaps, it is a work of grand scale.
It’s the kind of song you’ll want to sing out clearly during the summer, picturing the ocean landscape.
seaMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)6rank/position
The Ministry of Education song “Umi” (The Sea) is one of the most famous pieces among Japanese children’s songs.
Its lyrics, which praise the grandeur and beauty of the sea, are evocative enough to conjure vivid images just by listening.
The melody is gentle yet somehow powerful, making it beloved by a wide range of generations, from children to adults.
“Umi” was released in 1941 and has been cherished ever since as a classic.
In addition to being included in elementary school music textbooks, it has been chosen for collections such as Japan’s 100 Noted Songs and as a sea song to preserve for the 21st century, reflecting its high educational value.
It’s also recommended for summer recreation—try singing it together with older adults; it may bring back fond memories.
Voices of InsectsMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)7rank/position
First published in 1910 in the Elementary School Reader Songs, this Ministry of Education song is still included in the second-grade curriculum guidelines more than 100 years later.
Do you know the insects that appear—the pine cricket (matsumushi), the bell cricket (suzumushi), and the ones that come after? In fact, the next insect was originally the kirigirisu, but in 1932 it was changed to the kōrogi (cricket)! It’s said the change was made because kirigirisu was an old term that referred to kōrogi.
Even among older generations, you might find people divided into the “kirigirisu camp” and the “kōrogi camp.”