Japanese Hiragana Songs for Kids: Catchy Alphabet Tunes They’ll Love
Music turns learning into play, and hiragana—the Japanese phonetic alphabet—comes alive when set to melody. Catchy tunes help children remember each character’s shape and sound, making あいうえお (a-i-u-e-o) stick like a favorite chorus.
Why Hiragana Songs Work
Songs engage multiple senses—listening, singing, movement—which anchors sounds in memory. Kid’s songs, in particular, are proven to boost recall through repetition and fun rhythms.
Top Catchy Hiragana Tunes
- “あいうえおのうた”A beloved children’s song that cycles through all 46 characters, pairing each with a simple gesture.
- “Hiragana Rap”A modern take combining beatbox rhythms with kana recitation—perfect for older kids who love movement.
- “Kana Pop Medley”Bright, pop-style mashup of vowel and K-row songs, ideal for sing-along car rides.
- “あ行の歌” by JapanesePod101Focuses on the A-row (あ, い, う, え, お) with on-screen lyrics and clear pronunciation
Activities & Games
Melody Match
Play short clips of two different songs and pause. Kids guess which character just played—「え！」 (e!)—then sing the line together.
Hiragana Dance
Assign a dance move to each vowel. Call out あ, and everyone does the “clap-and-spin.” This kinesthetic play cements character-sound links.
Practice Corner
Create a “Song of the Day” jar. Each morning, draw a song title and play it twice—once to listen, once to sing. Keep a chart to track how many times each character was sung.
After jamming, open Dinolingo for a quick kana-quiz game. Dinolingo’s family plan offers over 50 languages and 40 000 + activities—animated videos, printable flashcards, and surprise badge rewards. Age-specific paths (Pre-readers 2–5, Elementary 6–10, Tween/Teen 11–14) reinforce each song’s characters while parents track progress on an ad-free dashboard.
Final Thoughts
Pairing upbeat songs with playful games makes hiragana feel like second nature. Blend these catchy tunes with Dinolingo’s interactive follow-ups, and your child will soon sing and read Japanese with joy and confidence.
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