A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.

wild chrysanthemum

Ministry of Education Song: Field Chrysanthemum

The children’s song “Nogiku” lets you feel the comforts of autumn.

Released in 1942 as a Ministry of Education song, it depicts wild chrysanthemums blooming proudly in autumn fields and hills, with a gentle and beautiful melody.

It’s a piece that invites you to picture wild chrysanthemums basking in autumn sunlight and scenic autumn landscapes as you listen.

It could be nice to talk about the features of wild chrysanthemums and the autumn scenery bathed in soft sunlight, incorporating simple hand motions as a play song.

The lyrics describe pale purple wild chrysanthemums—try looking up images and enjoying the hand-play song while viewing the flowers, whether at preschool or at home.

Bright Red AutumnLyrics by Tada Satsuma / Music by Hideo Kobayashi

Bright Red Autumn - It's so red, so very red. The ivy leaves are bright red. ~♪ (with gestures)

This song, vividly depicting the colors of autumn, expresses the season’s beauty through the eyes of children.

Scenes of nature turning red—ivy, maple leaves, and snake gourds—appear one after another, conveying the pure joy of children who discover them.

First introduced in October 1963 on NHK’s “Tanoshii Uta,” it has since remained beloved through “Minna no Uta.” The lyrics, which fully embody Tadashi Satsuma’s poetic worldview, allow children to feel the beauty and vitality of autumn’s nature.

It’s a perfect piece for autumn events at nurseries and kindergartens, or for family strolls.

Why not sing it together and joyfully welcome the arrival of autumn?

The Roasted Chestnut Song

Hand play song “Yaki-guri no Uta”

Roasted chestnuts with their fluffy, sweet flesh are one of the quintessential flavors of autumn! This hand-play song called “The Roasted Chestnut Song” tells the story of roasting chestnuts and eating them.

The hand motions rhythmically mimic roasting the chestnuts, peeling the shells, and include clapping as well.

Singing and dancing to it will definitely make you crave roasted chestnuts! While you’re waiting for the chestnuts to finish roasting at daycare or at home, sing this song and make the wait more fun.

Village Autumn

Sato no Aki (Autumn in the Village) by Chieko Baisho

Selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs” and included in elementary school music textbooks for many years, the children’s song Sato no Aki is a piece that symbolizes autumn.

It was originally composed to encourage soldiers returning from the front and demobilized troops, but after changes to the lyrics, it has come to be loved as a song depicting the gentle scenery of autumn in Japan.

In nursery schools and kindergartens, more upbeat songs are usually chosen.

Once in a while, though, it might be nice to take the opportunity to sing a calm, long-cherished Japanese song like Sato no Aki with simple hand motions.

Little Acorn Roller

Nursery rhyme: Little Acorn Koro-chan

This is the children’s song “Donguri Koro-chan,” which has also been made into a picture book.

It’s a very short song, so it’s easy to play along with.

How to play: sit a small child on your lap, and as you sing, gently touch their head or bottom, or lift them up high.

Even babies who don’t understand the song yet should enjoy it.

Try it together with the picture book, too.

I found a little sign of autumn.Lyrics by Hachirō Satō / Music by Yoshinao Nakata

I found a little sign of autumn.

The children’s song “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa” is known for its melody that evokes a slightly wistful autumn mood.

Featured in elementary, junior high, and high school music textbooks and frequently broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” it is one of Japan’s representative songs of autumn.

As summer turns into autumn, the colors and shapes of the natural scenery change rapidly.

This song depicts the small discoveries of autumn that appear as the season gradually shifts.

In addition to the autumn scenes portrayed in the lyrics, why not use the song as a cue to find signs of the changing season toward autumn in your own surroundings?

red dragonflyLyrics by Rofū Miki / Music by Kōsaku Yamada

Akatonbo – Red Dragonfly | Sunset Glow, Red Dragonfly [Japanese Song / Shoka]

Lyrics by Rofu Miki, music by Kósçaku Yamada.

In NHK’s “Songs of Japan You Choose: Hometown Songs” survey, it took first place, and it can be called one of Japan’s representative children’s songs.

You can almost see the setting sun sinking and the dragonflies flying against it.

Try expressing that scene with your hands.

The tempo is relaxed, so even small children should find it easy to follow.