Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
Do you like winter?
Winter is very cold, but you can enjoy the beautiful silvery world created by pure white snow and feel the special warmth unique to winter—like hot pot dishes and igloos.
There are so many ways to have fun that you can only experience in winter.
Winter also brings lots of fun events, such as Christmas and New Year’s!
Children are probably looking forward to making snowmen, having snowball fights, and enjoying Christmas presents and cake.
In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes, folk songs, traditional children’s songs, and hand-play songs with various winter themes.
There are many songs that can turn a winter that’s just cold into wonderful memories, so be sure to give them a listen!
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Collection of winter children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Fun winter finger-play songs too (71–80)
Troika
This is a Russian folk song from a country with a far harsher cold than Japan.
In Japan, the band Kachusha translated it.
It’s a sorrowful song about someone whose beloved has been taken from him, so the lyrics are very plaintive and the tone is dark.
In Japan, it’s also famous as a song used in the game Tetris.
Song of the Four Seasons
A song that beautifully depicts the changing of the four seasons resonates deeply with children.
Even in the cold of winter, this piece offers a warm light.
It’s perfect for nursery and kindergarten teachers to teach their students.
Singing it with family can create a lovely time to share the transitions of the seasons.
Since it was included in a music textbook compiled by the Ministry of Education in 1971, it has been cherished by many people.
The lyrics, which convey not only the joys of winter but also the beauty of other seasons, enrich children’s sensibilities.
Through this work, it promises to be a valuable opportunity to learn the joy of music and Japanese culture.
mochi poundingComposer: Isobe Masaru
This song is based on mochi pounding, which is done to make kagami mochi and other items in preparation for the New Year holidays.
The feel is like singing along to the exact tempo of the mochi pounding.
The lively, bright flow of the tempo is great, so you’ll find it’s over before you know it.
Collection of winter children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Fun winter hand-play songs too (81–90)
The earliest one first thing in the morningComposer: Nobuyoshi Koshibe
It’s a song that Osamu Sakata and Yuko Kanzaki sang on “Okaasan to Issho.” It lists jobs that start work in the morning, and at the end there’s a funny punchline about someone who oversleeps.
It’s really hard to get out of bed in winter, isn’t it?
Even Kaze-san.Lyrics by Kaoru Shibayama; additional lyrics by Hachirō Satō / Music by Yoshinao Nakata
A nursery rhyme perfect for the winter season when the cold wind blows is “Even the Wind.” Set to beautiful piano tones, it sings about the wind personified.
The charming lyrics, which feel as if they spring from a child’s imagination, leave a strong impression.
It’s also recommended to express the blowing wind throughout the piece with smooth piano playing.
It’s a song that makes you want to listen while gazing at a winter scene.
Let the soft, gentle timbre—warm enough to ease the chill of the season—wash over you.
The Song of the Twelve Zodiac Animals
Here is a song that was broadcast for 20 years, from 1973 to 1993, on the popular children’s TV program “Hirake! Ponkikki,” which most kids have probably seen at least once.
Since it aired for such a long time, some of you may have heard it when you were children.
It can be hard for kids to memorize the twelve zodiac signs, so turning it into a catchy pop song makes it easier to remember.
The lyrics and music were written by Michiko Yoshida, who also served as a vocal trainer for the famous Hideki Saijo.
Early Spring Ode
This is a song published in 1913 with lyrics by Kazumasa Yoshimaru and music by Akira Nakata.
It is one of the Songs of Japan (Hyakusen).
The song is said to depict the snowmelt scenery of Azumino in Nagano Prefecture.
“Fu” refers to the recitation or composition of Chinese-style poetry.
An arranged version was broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.”