Sky nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs
I’ve gathered children’s songs related to the sky—like stars, the moon, sunsets, fireworks, and the weather.
I think many of these are songs you heard when you were little.
They’re classics that have been sung for generations, so they give you a sense of the good old days.
Please listen and enjoy a bit of nostalgia.
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- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- [Warabe-uta] Beloved Classic Songs Passed Down Through Generations
- [Japanese Folk and Regional Songs] A Collection of Beloved Masterpieces from Across Japan, Brimming with Local Pride
- A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.
- [Sea Nursery Rhymes] Fun children's songs themed around the sea
- Masterpieces that sing of the stars. Star songs that resonate in the heart, best heard beneath the night sky.
- [Tanabata Children's Songs] Fun hand-play songs and a nostalgic collection of traditional nursery rhymes and folk songs
- [Moon Songs Special] Famous songs about the moon. Songs you’ll want to listen to under a full moon or in the moonlight.
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
- Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
Sky-themed nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs (1–10)
black kiteMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)
This children’s song, which begins with the opening line “Tobe tobe tonbi,” is likely familiar to many who remember learning it in music class.
The “pii-hyoro” cry of the black kite in the lyrics vividly conveys the lively image of the bird.
To the Sun in the Palm of Your HandSuginami Children’s Choir
The lyricist of “Te no Hira o Taiyo ni” is none other than Takashi Yanase, the creator of Anpanman.
It was introduced on NHK’s Minna no Uta in 1962.
With the hope that it will be sung for generations by parents and children, it has also been selected as one of the “100 Best Japanese Songs.”
Seven-year-old childRiri Hamano
Written by Ujo Noguchi, known for songs like “Shabondama” and “Red Shoes,” this gentle children’s song overflows with kindness, vividly conjuring the image of a mother crow warmly raising her seven chicks.
The idea that crows aren’t crying “caw, caw,” but rather “cute, cute,” is truly wonderful, isn’t it?
Sky nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs (11–20)
Sky of my hometownYasuda Shoko
Originally based on a Scottish folk song, this “Furusato no Sora” sets rich lyrics to that folk melody.
The lyrics are sentimental, evoking memories of a distant hometown, and the song quickly became a popular school song.
Desert of the MoonSuguru Sasaki
Originally published in 1923, “Tsuki no Sabaku” (Desert Moon) was broadcast on the radio in 1927, later recorded, and came to be widely known as a children’s song.
Its lyrical lyrics and melody were popular at the time, and it has been sung ever since.
rainHakushū Kitahara
This “Rain,” which begins with the words “Ame ga furimasu, ame ga furu” (“It rains, it’s raining”), is a historic children’s song released in 1919 (Taisho 8).
The lyrics were written by Hakushu Kitahara, and it contains many expressions that are seldom heard today.
Please listen to it while picturing the scenes of rain in Japan at that time.
A Hazy Moonlit NightRimi Natsukawa
Oborozukiyo is a seasonal word that refers to the scene of a faintly hazy moon floating in the spring night sky.
The song has a long history, with its composition said to date back to the Taisho era.
It was also included in elementary school songbooks at the time, and has been loved across generations.