Famous Kodomo no Uta

Same like other countries, Japan also has Kodomo no Uta. Kodomo no Uta (子供の歌) means children's song. While the melodies of such songs may be simple and unsophisticated and the lyrics short, they contain an immense ammount of poetic sentiment (Aoto, 1984: 309)

There are some kinds of Kodomo no Uta:

Warabe Uta (童歌)

Traditional Japanese  songs, similar to nursery rhymes. They are often sung as part of traditional children's games. They are described as a form of min’yo: traditional Japanese songs, usually sung without accompanying instruments.

The centuries-old lyrics are often incomprehensible to modern Japanese (especially to children who are singing it), and others can be quite sinister on close analysis. Like many of children's songs around the world, because people are used to them from an early age, they are often oblivious to the real meanings.

Example: Teru Teru Bozu

Lyrics:

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず (Teru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu)

明日天気にしてをくれ  (Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure)

いつかの夢の空のよに (Itsuka no yume no sora no yo ni)

晴れたら金の鈴あげよ (Haretara kin no suzu ageyo)

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず (Teru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu)

明日天気にしてをくれ (Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure)

私の願いを聞いたなら (Watashi no negai wo kiita nara)

甘いお酒をたんと飲ましょ (Amai o-sake wo tanto nomasho)

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず (Teru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu)

明日天気にしてをくれ (Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure)

それでも曇って泣いてたら (Sore de mo kumotte naitetara)

そなたの首をちょんと切るぞ (Sonata no kubi wo chon to kiru zo)

Translation:

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

Like the sky in a dream sometime

If it's sunny I'll give you a golden bell

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

If you make my wish come true

We'll drink lots of sweet sake

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

but if it's cloudy and I find you crying

Then I shall snip your head off

Mukashi Banashi no Uta (昔話の歌）

Mukashi Banashi itself means folktale. Japan has a lot of folktales, for examples: Momotaro, Urashima Taro and etc. So Japan made the song for the folktale for being sung by children with simple melodies and lyrics.

Example: Momotaro

Lyrics:

桃太郎さん、桃太郎さん (Momotarou san, momotarou san) 

お腰につけたきびだんご (Okoshi ni tsuketa kibidango) 

一つ私に下さいな (Hitotsu watashi ni kudasai na)

あげましょう、あげましょう (Agemashou, agemashou) 

今から鬼の征伐に (Ima kara oni no seibatsu ni)

ついてくるならあげましょう (Tsuite kuru nara agemashou) 

Translation:

Momotarou, Momotarou

That kibidango (millet dumplings) on your hip

won't you give me one

I'll give you, I'll give you

From now, on to conquer the Oni's

if you come with, I'll give it to you

Matsuri no Uta (祭りの歌）

The song is sung when they have matsuri or special day in Japan.

Example: Koinobori

Lyrics:

やねより高い鯉幟 (Yane yori takai koinobori)

大きなまごいはお父さん (Ookii magoi wa otōsan)

小さいひごひは子供たち (Chiisai higoi wa kodomo-tachi)

面白そうに泳いでる (Omoshirosou ni oyoideru) 

Translate:

Higher than the roof-tops are the koinobori

The large carp is the father

The smaller carp are the children

They seem to be having fun swimming.

Modern Kodomo no Uta

This kind of song can be the translation or modification from other country's child song.

Example: Kira-Kira Boshi (adapted from Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star)

きらきらひかる (kirakira hikaru)

おそらのほしよ (osorano hoshiyo)

まばたきしては (mabataki shiteha)

みんなをみてる (minnnawo miteru)

きらきらひかる (kirakira hikaru)

おそらのほしよ (osorano hoshiyo)

きらきらひかる (kirakira hikaru)

おそらのほしよ (osorano hoshiyo)

みんなのうたが (minnnano utaga)

とどくといいな (todokuto iina)

きらきらひかる (kirakira hikaru)

おそらのほしよ (osorano hoshiyo)

Translation:

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the sky so high

Like a diamond in the sky,

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are!

According to Aoto, there are also many children's song which were composed this century, such as Dragonfly, Scolded, Desert in the Moonlight, Canary, Red Shoes, Baby Raven, and New Year all songs which Japanese people carry in their hearts as unforgettable evocations of their childhood days.

Source:

Aoto, Yasuo. 1984. Nippon: The Land and Its People. Tokyo: Nippon Steel

Youtube