[Children’s Songs] Let’s Sing of Spring! A Fun Collection of Nursery Rhymes, Folk Songs, and Children’s Songs

Etenraku ImayōLyrics by: Jien

Etenraku Imayō — “On a spring dawn in gentle March”; lyrics by Monk Jichin, traditional Japanese song

“Etenraku Imayō” is an old song that sets lyrics to the melody of the famous gagaku piece “Etenraku.” The lyrics use a waka poem by Jien, a Tendai Buddhist monk whose poems are also included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.

Since this piece often appears in music textbooks, your children might be more familiar with it than you are.

Roly-poly pill bugLyrics and music by Toshihiko Shinzawa

Roly-Poly Pill Bug (with lyrics) Lyrics and music by Toshihiko Shinzawa – New song from Okaasan to Issho

A fingerplay song that gently portrays the cute looks and movements of small creatures was created by Toshihiko Shinzawa.

With warm lyrics and melody, it depicts encounters with the little creatures often seen in nature, making it an engaging piece that stimulates children’s curiosity.

Featured on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in December 2024, this work includes creative elements that let children enjoy expressing the adorable behaviors of animals through hand motions.

It can be used in kindergartens and preschools, and also serves as a tool for parents and children to bond while fostering an interest in nature.

With soothing lyrics and an approachable tune, it’s a perfect song for making happy memories during walks and outdoor play.

A Hazy Moonlit NightLyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano / Music by Teiichi Okano

Ministry of Education Song: Oborozukiyo (Hazy Moonlit Night)

A slightly hazy spring night moon—an oboro moon.

This song depicts a night where such a hazy moon softly glows.

Also featured in music textbooks, it was composed by Teiichi Okano, who created many famous children’s songs such as “Furusato” and “Haru ga Kita.” In the first verse, the lyrics describe the sunset sinking and the moon beginning to appear.

In the second verse, they portray how, on a night lit by the oboro moon, the forest, people, and even every sound seem veiled in a faint haze.

It’s a piece that romantically paints the scenery from a spring evening into the night.

Cute Hide and SeekLyrics by Hachirō Satō / Music by Yoshinao Nakata

Nursery Rhyme / Cute Hide-and-Seek / 36th Children’s Song Contest, Children’s Division

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.

Warm and leisurely strollingLyrics by Hiroo Sakata / Music by Akihiro Komori

Song: “Pokapoka Tekuteku”

The children’s song “Poka Poka Teku Teku” evokes the bright, cheerful atmosphere of spring.

The lyrics were written by Hiroo Sakata, who also penned songs like “Sacchan” and “Onaka no Heru Uta,” and they’re wonderfully upbeat, conjuring images of lively children.

The music was composed by Akihiro Komori, known for works such as “Obentobako no Uta” and “Genkotsuyama no Tanukisan,” and its marching-style, nostalgically bright melody really touches the heart.

Spring StreamLyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano / Music by Teiichi Okano

Spring Stream

This is a famous Japanese children’s song created by the duo of lyricist Tatsuyuki Takano and composer Teiichi Okano.

It is said to depict the scenery of the Kōhone River, which flowed around present-day Yoyogi in Shibuya Ward, where Takano lived at the time.

It’s a song that inevitably comes to mind when you see a brook in spring.

Height comparisonLyrics by Atsushi Umino / Music by Shinpei Nakayama

Height Comparison – Sei Kurabe | The mark on the pillar was from the year before last [Japanese Song / Shoka]

This is a song with a gentle, nursery-rhyme-like melody that celebrates Children’s Day on May 5.

The lyrics, filled with hope, focus on the marks on a pillar that record a child’s growth and the way their height shoots up—a heartwarming theme.

Checking children’s growth by the notches on the pillar becomes a fond memory when one looks back as an adult.

How about enjoying this special once-a-year day with this song?