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[Childcare] Summer songs: Full of fun! Summer nursery rhymes & finger-play songs

When the rainy season ends, summer finally arrives! Here, we’ll introduce a variety of children’s songs to help you enjoy the season.

We’ve gathered songs that kids love, as well as hand-play songs often sung in nurseries and kindergartens.

Listening to these songs will make you look forward to the long-awaited summer even more.

Hand-play songs are also fun for little ones, so be sure to incorporate them into your childcare activities.

While the days will be getting hotter, some children’s songs can make you feel cooler just by listening.

Enjoy a fun-filled summer together with the children!

Playlist

[Childcare] Summer songs: Full of fun! Summer nursery rhymes & finger-play songs
show_chartTitlePlaylistOne point
1eastHey! SeaLyrics by Keisuke Yamakawa / Music by Naosumi YamamotoA lively song that feels like the summer sea
2eastLet’s dance, Ondo!A bon odori song everyone can enjoy, adding color to the summer festival
3eastGenki OndoLiven up the summer festival with a lively Bon Odori song
4eastAnpanman OndoLet’s have fun dancing to the Anpanman Ondo!
5eastZunpa OndoLively music for dancing at a summer festival
6eastIt’s Hamu Hamu ON-DO, Ham-chans!Bon Odori song by the Hamtaro crew originating from the anime
7eastPonchararin on a moonlit nightBon dance at the summer festival, animals dancing happily
8eastTo the Sun in the Palm of Your HandLyrics by Takashi Yanase / Music by Taku IzumiThe perfect children’s song for the brightly shining summer sun is…
9eastMitsuya CiderMana (Manna Ouchi) and Yuu (… Hama)
10eastYokai ShiritoriLyrics by: Okuhara Yume / Music by: Tane TomokoA certain “yo…” who is said to know everything about yokai
11eastLet’s draw a picture in the blue sky.Lyrics by Kazumi Itsuki / Music by Hajime KamishibaClouds billowing in the clear blue summer sky...
12eastIt’s starting! (Summer ver.)In kindergartens and daycare centers, the classic hand play song “Hajima...”
13eastOh, oops.Lyrics by Hiroo Sakata / Music by Akira YuyamaThe song’s thumping, bouncy rhythm is really interesting…
14eastWatermelon-producing region
Watermelon-producing region
Speaking of summer, it’s got to be watermelon! That’s been a time-honored tradition since way back...
15eastTanabata-samaLyrics by Hanayo Gondo & Ryūha Hayashi / Music by Kan’ichi ShimofusaA song that depicts the scene of Tanabata, one of the summer events…
16eastTanabata bustleLyrics and Music by Boku to Kimi.In an original song for the Tanabata Festival, we dance and...
17eastThe fish jumps.Lyrics and music by Hirotaka NakagawaThe fish that flutters and splashes when taken out of the water is originally...
18eastA tadpole is a frog’s child.When I was little, I realized that tadpoles are actually frogs...
19eastbug-catching gameA nostalgic bug-catching song that takes you back to your childhood
20eastSeagull Sailornursery rhymeA seagull with an all-white body, wearing a white hat and white clothes...
21eastIce Cream SongLyrics by Yoshimi Sato / Music by Koichi Hattori"The Ice Cream Song" — Lyrics by Sato...
22eastThere’s no such thing as ghosts.Lyrics by Minori Maki / Music by Akira MineSpeaking of summer, it’s the season for ghost stories and spirits. This…
23eastSummer has comeLyrics by Nobutsuna Sasaki / Music by Sakunosuke KoyamaAn old song published in 1896, by Sasaki...
24eastBeyond the rainbowLyrics and Music: Osamu SakataAfter getting through the dreary, rainy tsuyu season, a...
25eastGlide, glide, glide through the sea.A parent-child song for joyfully learning about sea creatures
26eastswim gogglesA fun fingerplay song about searching for sea creatures
27eastFruit punch!gaagaaSA theme of desserts you want to eat in the summer, …
28eastLa-la-la! Tropicarnival!gaagaaSA cheerful rhythm reminiscent of a tropical carnival...
29eastGo! Go! PoolTakeru-kun & Mei-chan & Takemei PapaThe bubbly excitement of heading to the pool and the wat...
30eastGroovy WakameHiromichi & TanizoParents and children have fun moving their bodies with the wakame dance.
31eastWe are little pirates!Hiromichi & TanizoA lively pirate dance tune for parents and children to enjoy
32eastJiggly Wiggly Pool ExercisesKero Pons + Tomohiko FujimotoA fun warm-up song for dancing in the pool
33eastSea MarchKeropons PuppiesA fun play song where you energetically dance with sea creatures
34eastKaikaizokuzoku Pirate SongBonbon Academy × Daisuke YokoyamaA children's world of pirate adventures and songs
35eastSwirling SunflowerLyrics and Music: Boku to Kimi“Bo…,” who knows the field of childcare and child-rearing support inside and out
36eastMambo Jimbetatsu!Lyrics and Music: Nodoka BeppuBring smiles to children with a fun sea-creature play song
37eastCreepy-Crawly Sports DayLyrics and Composition: Koharu (Charan-Po-Rantan)At the aquarium, the creatures stage their own athletic meet…
38eastIt’s summer—time for the pool!Lyrics and Music: Naomi AbeBecoming a frog and gliding through the water, and the jellyfish...
39eastSquid squid dolphinLyrics by Kei Shimoyama / Music by Wakako FukudaJust a single different character, 'ru', turns it into a different creature...
40eastWhale BusLyrics by Takao Ide / Music by Takeshi ShibuyaA large sea creature transforms into a bus, and squids and o...
41eastLet’s invite that girl and go to the beach.Lyrics by Takao Ide / Music by Wakako FukudaA song that expands a child’s imagination as they adventure across the sea
42eastSwim! Taiyaki-kunMasato ShimonSick of my boring everyday life, I dream of freedom and head for the sea...
43eastSpotted garden eel!!Ryuzo Fukuda, Kazuto OzawaExercise song of creatures popping their heads out from the sea sand
44eastseaLyrics by: Ryūha Hayashi / Music by: Takeshi InoueUta no Hon (Volume 1), published in 1941…
45eastRow the boatHave fun with the summer hand-play song 'Ofune wo Koide' (Row the Boat)
46eastThe Goldfish’s NapGoldfish Nap, a soothing song popular with children
47eastWhen the Dock (Japanese knotweed) bloomsWhen the sorrel blooms, a cheerful spring nursery rhyme
48eastMs. HimawariCheering on children’s growth with a sunflower song
49eastWater Gun SongLet's enjoy summer with water-play hand-clapping songs
50eastice creamEnjoy food education with an ice cream finger play!
51eastLet’s go to the forest.A healing song that lets you feel the nature of the forest
52eastMorning on the RanchA morning scene poem depicting a ranch in Fukushima
53eastA quiet lakesideA quiet lakeside, a song popular among children
54eastwind chimeChildren enjoying summer with a wind chime nursery rhyme
55eastHo! Ho! Ho!Lyrics: Akira Ito / Music: Nobuyoshi KoshibeThis song has been featured on NHK’s programs for young children and...
56eastOh, the ranch is green.Let's move our bodies to the rhythm!
57eastStory FingerKids are captivated! The fun of fingerplay
58eastThe fish jumps.A fun hand game where fish jump and stick together
59eastHappy ChildrenFun warm-up exercises at Happy Children
60eastyour smileLet's spread smiles with a lively song!
61eastZebra SwirlZebra Round and Round, a Fun Rhythm Song
62eastTonton Tomato-chanLet's enjoy the summer with a tomato nursery rhyme!
63eastNorimaki Pera Pari OndoSummer Festival with the Fun 'Norimaki Perapari Ondo'
64eastA Drop of StarA fun song with a bright rhythm you can dance to
65eastMagic ShoesAn upbeat, fun song that conveys a desire to take on challenges.
66eastYokai ShiritoriEnjoying with kids through a yokai shiritori song
67eastGanbarappa☆GanbarūnAn upbeat, positive song to enjoy the summer
68eastSticky SambaEnjoy food education and music with the Sticky Samba
69eastPicnicA rhythmic song that enjoys the sounds of animals
70eastYaho-hoLet's have fun with kids by yodeling!
71eastOne, two, threeJump over creatures with a good tempo and dance!
72eastTsupin Flying FishLyrics by Chieko Nakamura / Music by Jun SakuraiLyrics by Ms. Chieko Nakamura, music by Mr. Jun Sakurai…
73easttomatoLyrics: Takeshi Shoji / Music: Megumi OhnakaIts name, themed around tomatoes—a summer vegetable...
74eastKing Kamehameha of the Southern IslandsLyrics by Akira Ito / Music by Koichi MoritaHame, who lives on a southern island that feels like summer all year round...
75eastseaTakeshi InoueA vision of a gentle, beautifully blue sea comes to mind...
76eastThe Banana That Flew AwayLyrics by Akira Kataoka / Music by Jun SakuraiMainly cultivated on southern islands that evoke the hot summer season...
77eastSong of Suihei-sanSuper Simple SongsA fun song featuring lots of sea creatures
78eastTakoyakiTakoyaki hand-play song, a fun song for summer festivals
79eastCute cookLyrics and composition: UnknownSo hot that it makes you not want to go outside…
80eastThe frog’s fluteLyrics by Nobuo Saito / Music by Minoru KainumaMany people think of rain when they hear the word “frog,” but…
81eastGoldfish’s NapLyrics by Naruaki Kashima / Music by Ryutaro Hirota
Goldfish's NapLyrics by Naruaki Kashima / Music by Ryutaro Hirota
Goldfish scooping is something you’ll always find at fun summer festivals...
82eastWhale ClockLyrics by Kazuo Seki / Music by Takeshi ShibuyaThis children’s song is perfect for the pleasant summer sea…
83eastRainy MoonLyrics by Ujō Noguchi / Music by Shinpei Nakayama
Rainy MoonLyrics by Ujō Noguchi / Music by Shinpei Nakayama
The nostalgic melody is beautiful, and the lyrics...
84eastloquatLyrics by Michio Mado / Music by Shigeru IsobeThis song, with lyrics written by the poet Michio Mado, has lyrics...
85eastSong of the cicadaLyrics by Yoshimi Sato / Music by Yoshinao NakataWhen the sound of cicadas reaches my ears, like it or not, summer is...
86eastrainfallLyrics by Hakushu Kitahara / Music by Shinpei NakayamaEven if the title “Amefuri” doesn’t immediately ring a bell…
87eastaye-ayeLyrics by Hiromi Aida / Music by Seiichiro UnoAn animal called the aye-aye, which is a member of the monkey family...
88eastSummer MemoriesLyrics: Akiko Ema / Music: Yoshinao NakataAs the lyrics say, when summer comes, I can’t help but think...
89eastwater playLyrics by Kume Azuma / Music by Rentarō Taki
water playLyrics by Kume Azuma / Music by Rentarō Taki
In the “Kindergarten Song Collection” published in 1901…
90eastMount FujiLyrics by Konami Iwaya / Composer: UnknownA children’s song and Ministry of Education shoka with lyrics written by Iwaya Sazanami…
91eastSea DanceA song that protects the ocean and enables environmental learning
92eastTo the Sun in the Palm of Your HandA beloved classic for children that depicts the vigor of life
93eastThe bottom of the sea with a holeSuper Simple SongsI wonder what's at the bottom of the sea. Let's all go explore...
94eastFish Rice ExerciseKeroponsLet's learn with a gymnastics routine where sea creatures sing and dance
95eastSea TrianglePinkfongCreatures in the sea with all kinds of shapes—whi…
96eastin the seaPinkfongA South Korea–origin educational brand for toddlers and children, Pin…
97eastAt the bottom of the sea, there is a blue house.Lyrics by Erika Tachihara / Music by Akira YuyamaA gentle melody feels pleasant: 'At the bottom of the sea...
98eastHyokkori Hyoutan-jimaYoko MaekawaYoko Maekawa of the Four Heavenly Kings of anime songs
99eastThunder God has arrived.Rumble, rumble, rumble! The c— that makes a roaring sound echo through the sky...
100eastPop the eggEggs are delicious raw, fried, or boiled...
101eastRoses, remnants of summerAmazingly, this song, long ago, was an Irish poem...
102eastTea PickingIt’s a song composed in the Meiji era. Tea picking begins in May…
103eastCome, fireflyLyrics and Composition: Traditional children’s songThe beautiful light that can be seen around the beginning of summer...
104eastseaLyrics and composition: UnknownThis is from 1913 and is a very old Japanese...
105eastsnailLyrics and composition: Ministry of Education shōka (school song)Even after getting through the rainy season of continuous showers, summer still brings evening squalls and typhoons...
106eastfireworksLyrics by Takeshi Inoue / Music by Kan’ichi ShimofusaSpeaking of summer traditions, fireworks are definitely a must...
107eastfireflyLyrics by Takeshi Inoue / Music by Kan’ichi ShimofusaSpeaking of the sights of summer nights, it would be the enchanting glow of…
108eastrice plantingLyrics by Takeshi Inoue / Music by Shimpei NakayamaThis children’s song, which appeared in 1942, has long been...
109eastYah-ho-ho! Summer vacation!Lyrics by Akira Ito / Music by Asei KobayashiFor children, summer vacation is the long-awaited time…
110eastThis roadLyrics: Hakushu Kitahara / Music: Kosaku YamadaOn my usual way home in my hometown, I hung out with friends...
111eastcoconutLyrics by: Toson Shimazaki / Music by: Toraji OnakaKnown for representative works such as “The Broken Commandment” and “Spring”…
112eastWorld of StarsLyrics by Ryuko Kawaji / Music by ConverseJapanese lyrics to Converse’s hymn…
113eastSong of the SeashoreLyrics by Hokkai Hayashi / Music by Tamezo NaritaSpun in a relaxed waltz rhythm, “...
114eastfeathered robeLyrics: Yanami Hayashi / Music: Kunihiko HashimotoThis children’s song, beloved since 1941, is he…
115eastsoap bubbleLyrics by Ujō Noguchi / Music by Shinpei NakayamaAmong Japan’s cherished shoka and children’s songs, loved by people of all ages and genders…
116eastA Little Bear in the RainLyrics: Masao Tsurumi / Music: Akira YuyamaThis song is a children’s song that was broadcast on NHK in 1962…
117eastbutterflied sardine(s)
butterflied sardine(s)
Sardines, herrings, Pacific saury, and salmon line the dining table...
118eastSlurping somen noodles
Slurping somen noodles
When it comes to classic dishes for hot summer days, somen noodles are a must! Yu…
119eastMorning on the RanchLyrics: Ministry of Education Shoka / Composition: Eikichi Funabashi
Morning on the RanchLyrics: Ministry of Education Shoka / Composition: Eikichi Funabashi
A piece that evokes a refreshing summer morning, “Pasture’s…”
120eastThe Curry Rice SongLyrics by Tomorogi Yukio / Music by Mine AkiraIs there anyone who dislikes curry rice, I wonder…
121eastSora Sora SomenLyrics by: Morichiyoko / Music by: AiaiNHK’s long-running program “With Mother”...
122eastTransform! Rhinoceros BeetleLyrics: Yumearu / Music: KahirosuzukiA cool rhinoceros beetle with magnificent horns for summer vacation...
123eastPool exercisesLyrics by: Mitsuki Oyamada / Music by: Masashi KomatsubaraSpeaking of summer, for kids the pool is a must…
124easthometownLyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano / Music by Teiichi OkanoThis song, in which the characters for 'hometown' are read as 'furusato,' ...
125eastecho gameLyrics by Ouchi Yasuyuki / Music by Akito Wakatsuki
echo gameLyrics by Ouchi Yasuyuki / Music by Akito Wakatsuki
When you shout “Yah-hoo!” loudly in the mountains…
126eastWe are children of the sea.Lyrics and composition: Ministry of Education shōka (school song)“Ware wa Umi no Ko” (We Are Children of the Sea), which is also included in music textbooks…
127eastDolphins are ZAMBRACO.Lyrics: Tatsuo Azuma / Music: Shoji WakamatsuFrom the 1970s to around the mid-1990s...
128eastpaprikaKenshi YonezuNHK 2020 Cheer Song Project…
129eastThe Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomLyrics by Shogo Kato / Music by Minoru Kainuma
The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomLyrics by Shogo Kato / Music by Minoru Kainuma
Lyrics by Shogo Kato, composed by Minoru Kainuma...