Discover Kagome Kagome: A Hauntingly Beautiful Japanese Kids’ Song
“Kagome Kagome” is one of Japan’s most hauntingly beautiful and mysterious children’s songs. Often sung while playing a traditional circle game, the lyrics have fascinated generations with their dreamlike, poetic, and sometimes even eerie imagery.
Children form a circle around one child (the “bird in the cage”), who sits in the center with their eyes closed. As the group sings, they move around the child. When the song ends, the child in the center has to guess who is standing behind them.
Kagome Kagome is the perfect doorway into the wider world of Japanese children’s songs. Below you will find its full lyrics and meaning, followed by a curated collection of other classic tunes that Japanese kids grow up singing, along with picture books and simple activities. Together they show how music, play, and stories open a joyful path into the Japanese language.
Kagome Kagome: Lyrics and Meaning
Japanese Lyrics
かごめ かごめ
かごのなかの とりは
いついつ でやる
よあけの ばんに
つると かめと すべった
うしろの しょうめん だあれ
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
kagome kagome
kago no naka no tori wa
itsu itsu deyaru
yoake no ban ni
tsuru to kame to subetta
ushiro no shoumen daare
English Meaning
Kagome, Kagome,
The bird in the cage,
When, oh when will you come out?
At the evening of dawn,
The crane and turtle slipped,
Who is behind you now?
A Song Full of Imagination and Symbolism
While its exact meaning is still debated, this song is filled with symbolic references. The crane and turtle represent longevity and fortune in Japanese culture, while the image of the “bird in the cage” evokes feelings of being trapped or waiting to be free. These elements combine to create an atmosphere of mystery and anticipation.
Kagome Kagome isn’t just a song, it’s also a playful group activity that introduces children to rhythm, memory, and social interaction. It has been a beloved part of Japanese playgrounds for centuries, which is exactly why it sits alongside so many other singing games in the Japanese childhood tradition.
Songs That Celebrate Nature and the Seasons
Many of Japan’s best-loved children’s songs grow out of the natural world: the changing seasons, the sea, falling acorns, and blooming flowers. These gentle tunes teach nature vocabulary and seasonal words while giving children a sense of wonder.
Haru ga Kita (Spring Has Come)
Haru ga Kita (はるがきた), which means Spring Has Come, is a beloved song that celebrates the arrival of spring across Japan’s mountains, villages, and open fields. The lyrics are simple, repetitive, and rhythmic, making it perfect for young learners. It introduces sentence patterns and question words like “どこに (doko ni, where)” and “どこで (doko de, where).”
Japanese Lyrics
はるが きた はるが きた どこに きた
やまに きた さとに きた のにも きた
はなが さく はなが さく どこに さく
やまに さく さとに さく のにも さく
とりが なく とりが なく どこで なく
やまで なく さとで なく のでも なく
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
haru ga kita, haru ga kita, doko ni kita
yama ni kita, sato ni kita, no ni mo kita
hana ga saku, hana ga saku, doko ni saku
yama ni saku, sato ni saku, no ni mo saku
tori ga naku, tori ga naku, doko de naku
yama de naku, sato de naku, no de mo naku
English Meaning
Spring has come, spring has come, where has it come?
It has come to the mountains, to the villages, and to the fields.
Flowers are blooming, flowers are blooming, where are they blooming?
In the mountains, in the villages, and in the fields.
Birds are singing, birds are singing, where are they singing?
In the mountains, in the villages, and in the fields.
With its consistent structure and repeated lines, children build vocabulary while internalizing sentence patterns naturally. It teaches the names of places (yama, sato, no) and actions (saku, to bloom; naku, to sing), and pairs beautifully with seasonal crafts and nature walks.
Umi (The Sea)
Umi (うみ), meaning The Sea, is a soothing and imaginative song that captures the wonder children feel when looking out at the ocean. Often sung in preschools and early elementary classrooms, it introduces simple yet poetic vocabulary while sparking a sense of dream-like exploration, blending language learning with emotional and sensory experiences.
Japanese Lyrics
うみは ひろいな おおきいな
つきは のぼるし ひが しずむ
うみは おおなみ あおい なみ
ゆれて どこまで つづくやら
うみに おふねを うかばせて
いって みたいな よそのくに
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
umi wa hiroi na ookii na
tsuki wa noboru shi hi ga shizumu
umi wa oonami aoi nami
yurete doko made tsudzuku yara
umi ni ofune o ukabasete
itte mitai na yoso no kuni
English Meaning
The sea is wide, the sea is great
The moon rises, and the sun sets
The sea has big waves, blue waves
Swaying, where do they go, I wonder
I want to float a boat on the sea
And travel to faraway lands
Unlike faster or playful tunes, Umi has a calm, dreamy pace. It encourages children to imagine traveling by boat, experiencing new cultures, and feeling the endless rhythm of the ocean waves. The gentle, rhythmic language helps even beginners follow along, making it an ideal way to explore geography, nature, and emotions.
Donguri Korokoro (A Rolling Acorn)
Donguri Korokoro is a beloved classic that tells the tale of a tiny acorn rolling down a hill and finding itself in an unfamiliar place, the pond. This charming song introduces young learners to nature, friendship, and the comforting idea of returning home.
Japanese Lyrics
どんぐり ころころ どんぶりこ
おいけに はまって さあ たいへん
どじょうが でてきて こんにちは
ぼっちゃん いっしょに あそびましょう
どんぐり ころころ よろこんで
しばらく いっしょに あそんだが
やっぱり おやまが こいしいと
ないては どじょうを こまらせた
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
donguri korokoro donburiko
oike ni hamatte saa taihen
dojou ga detekite konnichiwa
botchan isshoni asobimashou
donguri korokoro yorokonde
shibaraku isshoni asonda ga
yappari oyama ga koishii to
naite wa dojo o komaraseta
English Meaning
A little acorn rolled and rolled, splash! It fell into a pond!
A loach came out and said, “Hello! Little one, let’s play together!”
The acorn was happy and full of joy, and they played a while,
But then it missed the mountain and cried, troubling the poor loach.
As the acorn wept, a friendly squirrel came flying over,
wrapped it in fallen leaves, and rushed it back home to the mountain.
Short, melodic, and full of relatable imagery (falling, playing, missing home, and being comforted by a friend), Donguri Korokoro introduces basic nature words like donguri (acorn), oike (pond), dojou (loach), and oyama (mountain), along with simple greetings and actions such as konnichiwa (hello) and asobimashou (let’s play). When kids sing it, they experience a tiny adventure that teaches empathy, curiosity, and the joy of friendship.
Songs of Festivals, Friendship, and Togetherness
Some songs are tied to special celebrations or to the simple joy of playing together. They carry cultural traditions and warm, communal feelings that children remember for years.
Koinobori (Carp Windsocks for Children’s Day)
In Japan, Children’s Day (こどもの日 / Kodomo no Hi), celebrated on May 5th, is a joyful occasion when families pray for the health and happiness of their children. One of the most iconic symbols of this day is the koinobori, carp-shaped streamers that flutter proudly in the wind. The traditional song Koinobori captures this festive spirit through a simple, vivid poem about these flying carps.
Japanese Lyrics
やねより たかい こいのぼり
おおきい まごいは おとおさん
ちいさい ひごいは こどもたち
おもしろそうに およいでる
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
yaneyori takai koinobori
ookii magoi wa otoosan
chiisai higoi wa kodomotachi
omoshirosou ni oyoideru
English Meaning
Carp streamers flying higher than rooftops,
The big black carp is the father,
The little red carps are the children,
They swim playfully in the sky.
The carp, or koi, is admired in Japanese culture for its strength and determination, especially its ability to swim upstream. That is why koinobori represent the wish for children to grow up healthy, resilient, and full of life. The song is often sung in schools and at home leading up to May 5th, as families decorate their houses with colorful carps fluttering in the spring breeze.
Okina Kuri no Ki no Shita de (Under the Big Chestnut Tree)
おおきな くりの きの したで (Ōkina Kuri no Ki no Shita de) creates a world where children can play, imagine, and feel connected. Its simple lyrics and gentle tune invite children to play, talk, and dream together under a big chestnut tree, making it a favorite in kindergartens and family sing-alongs across Japan.
Japanese Lyrics
おおきな くりの きの したで
あなたと わたし
なかよく あそびましょう
おおきな くりの きの したで
おはなし しましょう みんなで わに なって
おおきな ゆめを おおきく そだてましょう
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
ookina kuri no ki no shita de
anata to watashi
nakayoku asobimashou
ookina kuri no ki no shita de
ohanashi shimashou, minna de wani natte
ookina yume o ookiku sodatemashou
English Meaning
Under the big chestnut tree, you and I,
let’s play together as friends, under the big chestnut tree.
Under the big chestnut tree, let’s have a talk, let’s all form a circle,
under the big chestnut tree, let’s grow our big dreams together.
This song is often used with hand motions or in group dances, where children hold hands and move in a circle, reinforcing friendship, togetherness, and shared joy. It introduces natural vocabulary (kuri = chestnut, ki = tree), relational phrases, and emotional concepts like nakayoku (getting along well). It gently teaches that under the shade of friendship, kindness, and shared dreams, anything can grow.
Silly and Playful Songs Kids Adore
Children also love songs that surprise them, make them count, or set their hands moving. These playful tunes turn language practice into laughter.
Neko Funjatta (The Trampled Cat)
One of the funniest and most beloved songs among children in Japan is ねこふんじゃった (Neko Funjatta), which translates to I Stepped on the Cat. This humorous tune is full of imagination, silly moments, and a flying cat, yes, a cat that flies into the sky! It is often the first song many children learn to play on the piano in Japan, thanks to its simple melody and repetitive structure.
Japanese Lyrics
ねこ ふんじゃった ねこ ふんじゃった
ねこ ふんづけちゃったら ひっかいた
ねこ ひっかいた ねこ ひっかいた
ねこ びっくりして ひっかいた
わるい ねこめ つめを きれ
やねを おりて ひげを それ
ねこ ふんじゃった ねこふんじゃった
ねこ ふんづけちゃったら とんでった
ねこ とんじゃった ねこ とんじゃった
ねこ おそらへ とんじゃった
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
neko funjatta neko funjatta
neko fundzukechattara hikkaita
neko hikkaita neko hikkaita
neko bikkurishite hikkaita
warui nekome tsume o kire, yane o orite hige o sore
neko nyaago nyaago nekokaburi, nekonadegoe de amaeteru
neko funjatta neko funjatta
neko fundzukechattara tondetta
neko tonjatta neko tonjatta, neko osora e tonjatta
aoi sora ni kasa sashite, fuwari fuwari kumo no ue
English Meaning
I stepped on a cat, I stepped on a cat, then the cat scratched me.
The cat was surprised and scratched me. Bad kitty! Trim your nails!
Go back to the roof and shave your whiskers! The cat meows, pretending to be innocent.
I’m sorry, kitty, I didn’t mean to scare you. Come over, I’ll give you dried bonito!
I stepped on a cat, and the cat flew away, high into the sky,
carrying an umbrella into the blue, gently floating on top of a cloud. Goodbye, kitty, come back tomorrow morning!
With its bouncing rhythm, unexpected storyline, and exaggerated actions, Neko Funjatta is not just a song, it’s a whole story with a beginning, middle, and end, packed into a catchy melody. Learning a language becomes magical when music, humor, and storytelling come together.
Fushigina Poketto (The Magical Pocket)
Fushigina Poketto (ふしぎなポケット), which means “The Magical Pocket,” tells the whimsical story of a pocket that creates more biscuits every time you tap it, a dream come true for any child. This playful tune is easy to sing, repetitive enough for language learners, and filled with imagination, making it a favorite in kindergartens and early language classrooms across Japan.
Japanese Lyrics
ぽけっとの なかには
びすけっとが ひとつ
ぽけっとを たたくと
びすけっとは ふたつ
もひとつ たたくと びすけっとは みっつ
たたいて みるたび びすけっとは ふえる
そんな ふしぎな ぽけっとが ほしい
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
poketto no naka ni wa
bisuketto ga hitotsu
poketto wo tataku to
bisuketto wa futatsu
mou hitotsu tataku to bisuketto wa mittsu
tataite miru tabi bisuketto wa fueru
sonna fushigina poketto ga hoshii
English Meaning
There is one biscuit in my pocket. When I tap my pocket, it becomes two.
Tap again, now there are three! Each time I tap, the number grows.
Oh, I wish I had such a magical pocket, yes, I wish I had such a magical pocket.
Children are naturally drawn to songs that involve counting, repetition, and a bit of magic. Fushigina Poketto offers all three: it encourages basic counting skills (1–2–3), introduces verbs like tataku (to tap), and sparks imaginative thinking. Children often tap along while singing, reinforcing key vocabulary through melody and movement.
Musunde Hiraite (Close Hands, Open Hands)
Among Japan’s most beloved preschool songs, むすんで ひらいて (Musunde Hiraite) holds a special place. This is the Japanese version of “Open, Shut Them,” an interactive finger-play activity that helps children develop coordination, language, and rhythm. It is widely used in kindergartens, baby groups, and parent-child music classes across Japan.
Japanese Lyrics
むすんで ひらいて
てを うって むすんで
また ひらいて てを うって
その てを うえに
むすんで ひらいて
てを うって むすんで
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
musunde hiraite
te o utte musunde
mata hiraite te o utte
sono te o ue ni
musunde hiraite
te o utte musunde
English Meaning
Close your hands, open your hands
Clap your hands, and close them again
Open them once more, clap your hands
Raise your hands up high
Close your hands, open your hands
Clap your hands, and close them again
Catchy and easy to follow, Musunde Hiraite introduces basic body-related vocabulary such as te (hands), ue (up), musunde (close/fold), and hiraite (open). The accompanying hand motions encourage fine motor skill development. It is often used during circle time, transitions, or as a gentle warm-up, fostering listening skills, body awareness, and joyful participation.
A Heartfelt Story Song
Inu no Omawarisan (The Doggie Cop)
One of the most adorable and well-loved Japanese children’s songs is いぬの おまわりさん (Inu no Omawarisan), or “The Doggie Police Officer.” This sweet, gentle song tells the story of a lost kitten who can’t remember where her home is, and the kind dog policeman who tries to help.
Japanese Lyrics
まいごの まいごの こねこちゃん
あなたの おうちは どこですか
おうちを きいても わからない
なまえを きいても わからない
にゃん にゃん にゃん にゃん
ないてばかりいる こねこちゃん
いぬの おまわりさん こまってしまって
わん わん わん わん
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
maigo no maigo no koneko-chan
anata no ouchi wa doko desu ka
ouchi wo kiite mo wakaranai
namae wo kiite mo wakaranai
nyan nyan nyan nyan
naite bakari iru koneko-chan
inu no omawarisan komatte shimatte
wan wan wan wan
English Meaning
Lost, lost little kitten, where is your home?
Even if I ask you, you don’t know. Even if I ask your name, you don’t know.
Meow, meow, meow, meow. You keep on crying, little kitten.
The doggie policeman is troubled. Bow wow, bow wow.
I asked the crow, but they didn’t know. I asked the sparrow, but they didn’t know.
Still the lost little kitten keeps crying, and the doggie policeman is troubled.
Inu no Omawarisan has everything kids love: animals, repetition, sound effects (nyan and wan), and a simple story with a big heart. It introduces everyday vocabulary such as maigo (lost child/kitten), ouchi (home), omawarisan (police officer), and the onomatopoeia nyan/wan (meow/bark). It helps children explore emotions like worry and kindness, making it a gateway into empathy, imagination, and the Japanese language.
Beyond Songs: Top 15 Japanese Picture Books
Songs and stories work hand in hand. Picture books open another window into language and culture, pairing charming illustrations with easy words like さくら (sakura, cherry blossom) or くま (kuma, bear), so kids absorb vocabulary as they turn each page. Here are fifteen classic Japanese titles to spark a reading adventure.
- ぐりとぐら (Guri and Gura) – Two adventurous mice love pancakes.
- しろくまちゃんのほっとけーき (Polar Bear’s Pancakes) – A bear makes and shares tiny treats.
- ねないこだれだ (Who’s That Asleep?) – A playful rhyme about night and ねこ (neko, cat).
- だるまさんが (Hey, Daruma!) – A round だるま tumbles in silly games.
- きんぎょがにげた (The Goldfish Flew Away) – Children hunt for a missing きんぎょ (kingyo, goldfish).
- ねずみくんのチョッキ (Mouse’s New Vest) – A mouse’s colorful ベスト (vesuto, vest) sparks joy.
- おおきなかぶ (The Giant Turnip) – A family pulls together to uproot a huge かぶ (kabu, turnip).
- てぶくろ (The Mitten) – Woodland creatures crawl into a lost てぶくろ (glove).
- おつきさまこんばんは (Good Evening, Moon) – A lullaby under a glowing つき (tsuki, moon).
- スイミー (Swimmy) – A small さかな (fish) finds clever ways to explore the sea.
- くれよんのくろくん (Kuro the Crayon) – A black crayon colors his own adventures.
- はじめてのおつかい (First Errand) – A child’s brave solo trip to buy たまご (eggs).
- ももたろう (Momotaro) – The hero born from a もも (peach) fights ogres.
- おしいれのぼうけん (Closet Adventure) – Siblings discover secret worlds in a おしいれ (closet).
- くまちゃんのたんじょうび (Bear’s Birthday) – Friends surprise くま with a party.
Activities and Games for Songs and Books
Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt: Hide plush toys or picture cards of characters, such as うさぎ (rabbit) and くま, around the reading area. When kids find one, they say its Japanese name before reading the next page.
Story Sketch and Tell: After each book or song, have children draw their favorite scene and label one item in Japanese, like 「パンケーキ」 (pankēki, pancake) or 「かぶ」. They then describe it aloud in simple sentences.
Practice Corner: Display a “Word Wall.” Choose one new word per title or song and add its card to the wall. At each read-aloud or sing-along, challenge your child to point at and say that word in Japanese.
Learning Japanese Through Songs and Stories with Dinolingo
Through Dinolingo’s Japanese lessons for kids, learners can experience traditional songs like Kagome Kagome, Umi, Koinobori, and the rest of this collection through music, storytelling, and games. These multisensory tools help children ages 2 to 14 build vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and develop listening skills. The platform’s use of authentic audio, interactive visuals, and cultural notes makes learning not only effective but meaningful.
Each song comes to life through interactive videos, native speaker audio, animated visuals, and printable lyrics, so children learn the meaning and pronunciation of the words while exploring the imagery through stories. Age-specific paths for pre-readers, early learners, and middle schoolers (2–5, 6–10, 11–14) reinforce vocabulary through follow-up games, while parents track progress on an ad-free dashboard.
One family plan unlocks over 50 languages and 40,000+ interactive lessons, with offline printables and a parent dashboard included. Dinolingo is available across web, iOS, and Android, so whether at home or in the classroom, kids can sing, read, and play their way into Japanese. Pair your child’s favorite songs and picture books with these playful activities and watch their imagination, and their language skills, bloom.
Sources: Kids Web Japan, Goodreads Japanese Picture Books Shelf, NHK for School.
