Ranking of Popular Folk Songs
That nostalgic melody, passed down through generations—the heart of our hometowns.
We’ve researched a wide range of folk songs from past to present, from East to West! In this article, we’ve selected popular tracks based on reliable feedback from music fans who’ve contributed to our site so far.
Among them, we’ll introduce the most acclaimed ones in a ranked format.
Please take a look.
We also researched children’s songs like nursery rhymes and lullabies, as well as work songs and songs for ceremonies and events.
In recent years, new ways of listening to folk music—championed by acts like Minyo Crusaders and Riyō Sanmyaku—have been attracting a fresh audience.
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Popular Folk Song Rankings (81–90)
Yokai ShiritoriLyrics by: Okuhara Yume / Music by: Tane Tomoko85rank/position
Speaking of summer, it’s the perfect season for ghosts and yokai.
Haunted houses and ghost stories are also a quintessential part of summer.
Chilling ghost tales are nice for the hot season, but this song, “Yokai Shiritori,” is a cute tune that even kids who don’t like scary things can enjoy.
It’s performed on NHK’s children’s program “Okaasan to Issho.” In the lyrics, various yokai like the Rokurokubi and Zashiki-warashi visit a yokai professor and challenge him to play “yokai shiritori,” but he ends up losing.
Be sure to pay attention to the names of the yokai that appear in the shiritori!
Cute Hide and SeekLyrics by Hachirō Satō / Music by Yoshinao Nakata86rank/position
This is a gentle children’s song about a game of hide-and-seek played by adorable animals.
Hatchlings, sparrows, and puppies try their best to conceal themselves, warmly portrayed in the words of Hachirō Satō, with Yoshinao Nakada’s melody enhancing its charm even further.
First released in 1951, the piece has inspired children’s playfulness and curiosity toward animals.
The thrilling hide-and-seek unfolds in everyday scenes—gardens, rooftops, and meadows.
It’s perfect for singing with your child in fresh, green May, while thinking of the animals you might meet on a walk.
The rhythm of the lyrics and the friendly melody truly seem to express the joy of spring.
Red sky at duskLyrics by Ukou Nakamura / Music by Shin Kusakawa87rank/position
In autumn, sunsets look especially beautiful, don’t they? It depends on the region, but in November the sun usually sets around 5 p.
m.
, so if you’re out for an evening walk with a little child, there’s a good chance you’ll catch the sunset.
At times like that, how about singing this song together with your child? Parents will certainly know it, and since it’s a classic children’s song, your child has probably learned it somewhere too.
It may seem like an ordinary moment, but it’s sure to become a scene that remains in your child’s heart as a lasting memory of autumn.
The Snow PainterLyrics by Akihiko Noritake / Music by Takashi Ando88rank/position
It uses a metaphor that snow falls and turns the world white, as if painted with white paint.
There’s an onomatopoeic expression for the falling snow, the repeatedly appearing keyword “white,” and above all, the gentle melody that you’ll want to remember and hum along to.
It’s a snow-themed song that adults should definitely listen to as well.
Adding simple choreography and dancing to it would be nice, too.
It’s fun to sing as-is, but it’s also great to let your imagination run with questions like, “What does a snow painter mean, anyway?”
spring breezeLyrics: Yoshikiyo Kato / Music: Foster89rank/position
A work that beautifully fuses Japanese tradition with Western music.
Its lyrics, depicting the gentle scenery of spring, and its pleasant melody tenderly accompany the listener’s heart.
Ever since it was included in the “Certified Song Collection” in 1926, this piece has been cherished for many years.
Scenes that evoke the arrival of spring—willow branches, kites, and the wind blowing through the garden—come vividly to mind.
It’s a perfect song for the start of a new school term or the kindergarten/elementary school entrance season.
Singing it with children will deepen the joy of spring, and adults, too, will enjoy it along with fond memories.
Summer MemoriesLyrics: Akiko Ema / Music: Yoshinao Nakata90rank/position
A quintessential Japanese classic that paints a nostalgic summer scene.
Keinao Nakada’s gentle melody and Akiko Ema’s poetic lyrics leave a quiet afterglow in the listener’s heart.
Vivid depictions of nature—Oze shrouded in mist, the blooms of skunk cabbage, and a rhododendron-tinted sky at dusk—are especially striking.
First broadcast on an NHK radio program in 1949, it has been beloved by many ever since.
It’s perfect for moments when you want to feel the calm passage of time or indulge in fond memories of the past.
Folk Song Popularity Ranking (91–100)
The Banana That Flew AwayLyrics by Akira Kataoka / Music by Jun Sakurai91rank/position
This song is a memorable piece with a Latin rhythm despite being a children’s song, and it was featured on NHK’s music program “Uta no Ehon” in 1962.
The percussion gives it a tropical feel, doesn’t it? There are many scenes where someone slips on a banana peel, and since bananas are a slippery fruit, the lyrics playfully use that trait to have the banana appear in various settings.
The way the scenes unfold feels like reading a picture book.
The shout at the end of the song is fun and easy to remember.