[Surprising!] A children’s song that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually…
Nursery rhymes we often sang as children in kindergarten, nursery school, or elementary school.
Among the ones we still remember as adults, quite a few actually originated overseas.
In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes with roots abroad.
We’ve picked out a variety—from songs that make you think “Come to think of it, that makes sense,” to surprising ones that have you saying, “Wait, that song too?” They’re all familiar across generations, whether it’s something you sang as a child or a song your kids are learning in nursery school.
As you listen, be sure to notice the differences between the versions we often sing and the original tunes!
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[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes of overseas origin. Those familiar nursery rhymes are actually (21–30)
Winter ConstellationOriginated in the United States
This song, which lyrically celebrates the constellations shining in the clear winter night sky, is based on the American love song “Mollie Darling,” composed in 1871.
In the Japanese lyrics written by Keizo Horiuchi, the original love theme is completely set aside in favor of a dedicated portrayal of tranquil winter scenery—an especially distinctive choice.
Since its inclusion in middle school music textbooks in 1947, it has been widely cherished through postwar music education as a Ministry of Education song, and in 2007 it was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” Many artists, including Hiroko Yakushimaru and Yusaku Kiyama, have covered it.
Although it has no commercial tie-ins, it has occasionally been featured on educational programs.
It is a perfect classic for those who wish to gaze up at the starry sky on a cold night and sink into a quietly reflective mood.
The Flowers in the GardenIrish folk song
This piece is based on a poem written in 1805 by Irish poet Thomas Moore.
Through the image of the last rose blooming at the end of summer, it explores themes such as solitude and aging.
It was published in 1813 as Volume 5 of the album A Selection of Irish Melodies, and in Japan it was included in Volume 3 of the Ministry of Education’s Elementary School Songbook in 1884.
In addition to arrangements by classical composers like Beethoven and Mendelssohn, it has been used in films such as Gaslight and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
It’s a recommended song for those who wish to reflect on the changing seasons and the transience of life.
spring breezeAmerican songs
Did you know the intriguing fact that the beautiful shōka born in the Meiji era is actually based on an American song by Stephen Foster? First introduced in 1903 in “Integrated Curriculum: Boys’ Songs, First Volume,” this piece is a masterpiece that brilliantly transformed the original’s wistful melody into a vivid portrait of spring in Japan.
The Japanese lyrics by Yoshikiyo Katō celebrate the beauty of the seasons—like willows swaying in the breeze and blossoming plum flowers—perfectly harmonizing with Foster’s familiar tune.
A different version, titled “Evening Bells,” was used in Yasujirō Ozu’s film Tokyo Story, attesting to its timeless beauty.
It’s a song I highly recommend when you want to feel the arrival of spring or immerse yourself in the nostalgic world of children’s songs.
Homesickness on a JourneyOriginated in the United States
Are you familiar with the song “Dreaming of Home and Mother,” which originated in the United States in 1868? This beautiful work, which expresses the feelings of soldiers longing for home after the Civil War, has continued to be loved in Japan under the title “Ryoshū” (“Longing on a Journey”).
Its lyrics poetically convey thoughts of family far away and the nostalgia felt while traveling, and the poignant, wistful melody blends with them in perfect harmony.
It has been used as incidental music in TV dramas and films and is taught and sung in schools as a classic.
It’s a song I’d recommend to anyone who, on an autumn evening, suddenly remembers their hometown or lives apart from their family.
Haze or cloud?German folk song
This piece, distinguished by its gentle, emotionally rich melody, is a children’s song based on a traditional German folk tune.
The lyrics, which sing of nature’s changes and the feeling of the seasons, have the power to bring comfort and nostalgia to listeners; it is likely this universal beauty that has allowed the song to be cherished across generations.
In November 2011, Kawai Publishing released a piano-accompaniment arrangement as an e-score, making it more accessible for use in concerts and educational settings.
It’s perfect for school choir competitions and music lessons, and is recommended even for those experiencing choral singing for the first time.
The Japanese translation has been crafted to preserve the original’s emotional nuance, resulting in a work that, though rooted in German folk tradition, resonates deeply with Japanese audiences.
Realm of the StarsHymn
It’s a very interesting discovery that the original source of this song—beloved as a Ministry of Education school song in the Meiji era—was actually the American hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The work in which Charles C.
Converse set a beautiful melody in 1855 to a poem Joseph Scriven, an Irishman, wrote to comfort his mother, was superbly adapted into Japanese lyrics expressing a yearning for the starry sky by Yosui Sugitani.
Since it was included in Volume 2 of the Integrated Secondary School Songs in 1910, this masterpiece has continued to be sung at school events such as graduation ceremonies and choral competitions.
Ogre PantsOriginating in Italy
“Oni no Pantsu” is a children’s song often heard around Setsubun, known for showcasing the ogre’s costume and strength.
Its original tune, “Funiculì, Funiculà,” which originated in Italy, describes a funicular railway, and a straightforward Japanese translation of the original lyrics is also well loved.
It is sometimes called the world’s oldest commercial jingle, and its fresh, upbeat atmosphere that makes you want to visit the place is a major part of its appeal.
It’s quite a rare case that both the faithful Japanese translation of the original “Funiculì, Funiculà” and the child-friendly parody “Oni no Pantsu” have both become established as nursery songs.