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 (21–30)
Dango, dango, they stuck together.29rank/position
Autumn is the season of hearty appetites—so many foods taste great right now, don’t they? The song “Dango, Dango Stuck Together” is a fingerplay tune about delicious dango sticking to your head, shoulders, cheeks, and chin and not coming off easily! You use your hand in a fist to pretend it’s a dango, sticking it to different parts of your body as part of the fingerplay.
It’s a fun song where you can even add your own original lyrics.
When you strain with an “Uuun!” trying to pull the dango off, your whole body can’t help but get moving.
Sing it, and you might just find yourself craving some dango!
Dragonfly, dragonfly.30rank/position
Among the insects often seen in autumn are dragonflies, and this time I’d like to introduce a children’s song about them.
The song is short and easy to remember! You can just sing it, but you can also move your fingers in little circles as if catching a dragonfly, make big circles with your arms, or even spin your whole body around.
There are no set rules for how to play—feel free to express the dragonfly however you like as you sing.
It’s also fun to use props, like singing while flying a dragonfly made from origami, or slipping a ribbon between a pair of chopsticks to flutter in the wind.
Popular Folk Song Rankings (31–40)
Come, firefly31rank/position
A traditional children’s song that conveys the beauty of Japan’s nature to kids.
It depicts the glow of fireflies dancing in the summer night sky with a gentle melody and catchy calls.
The distinctive “ho-ho” refrain stands out, and it’s a song you can enjoy as a round.
Perfect for everyone to sing together during bon dances or cool summer evenings.
It’s a beloved piece across generations, from children to adults.
Why not spend some time feeling the changing seasons and touching the heart of Japan? Singing it with family and friends will make wonderful summer memories.
School of MedakaLyrics by Shigeru Chaki / Music by Yoshinao Nakada32rank/position
Spring is the season when living creatures become more active.
With that in mind, how about “Medaka no Gakkō” (“The Medaka’s School”)? Many of you probably sang and enjoyed it as children.
First broadcast on an NHK radio program in 1951, it gradually came to be sung across Japan and, within a few years, became firmly established.
In 2007, it was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Songs.
Listening to it conjures up images of medaka fish swimming in clear water and puts you in a peaceful mood.
It’s perfect for when you want to spend a laid-back, carefree moment.
Donguri KorokoroLyrics by Tsuneyoshi Aoki / Music by Sadamu Yanada33rank/position
The children’s song “Donguri Korokoro” sings about the grand adventure of acorns that you often see on roads and in parks in autumn.
An acorn rolls along, falls into a pond, meets a loach, and they play together.
As they play, the acorn becomes homesick, and in the end it bursts into tears—this is how the lyrics portray the story.
The lyrics feel like reading a picture book, so the more you listen, the more it may spark your child’s interest.
If you add a hand-play routine to match the lyrics, your child will enjoy listening even more.
Tea PickingMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)34rank/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!
Milk MunariHiga Tatsumi35rank/position
Milk Munari is a captivating track by Okinawan musician Hidekatsu, released in 1993, known for its addictive rhythm.
Rather than being a traditional Eisa song passed down through generations, it belongs to a later, intentionally composed style known as “creative Eisa.” Notably, the lyrics are sung in the Yaeyama dialect by Hidekatsu, who hails from Taketomi Island.
The dialect’s distinctive sound is so unique that even people from Okinawa’s main island often can’t understand it.
Give the song a listen with an ear for the remarkable Yaeyama dialect!