Traditional Japanese Children’s Songs

Japan has many, many traditional songs spanning various genres. In other lesson pages, I would like to have a look at many different traditional songs, but for now let’s look at a few children’s songs.

You'll recognize the music for シャボン玉 (Bubbles) as based on Jesus Loves Me. You might know the Momotaro song (if not, I recommend starting there). And you surely know 桜 Sakura, the Cherry Blossoms song, but do you know 象さん, the Elephant Song, or 雀の学校, The Sparrow's School?

Choose a song lesson page below to hear the song recorded, see the lyrics, and learn with the vocabulary definitions.

Japanese Traditional Songs – 雀の学校 Sparrow’s School

Japanese Traditional Songs – Peach Boy 桃太郎

Japanese Traditional Songs – ぞうさん Elephant’s Song

Japanese Traditional Songs – かえるの歌 Frog’s Song

Japanese Traditional Songs – Bubbles しゃぼん玉

Japanese Traditional Songs – At a Quiet Lakeside しずかな湖畔の

Japanese Traditional Songs – うれしいひな祭り Happy Doll’s Festival

Japanese Traditional Songs – Sakura さくら

Japanese Traditional Songs 一年生になったら When I Become a First Grader

Japanese Traditional Songs – The Yubikiri Song

Japanese Traditional Songs – 手のひらを太陽に The Sun through Your Hand