Folk Songs of Japanese Children

By Donald Paul Berger and Yoshie Noguchi

This is a delightful collection of Japanese children's songs with lyrics, sheet music and cultural notes.

Simple, singable, and engaging, the traditional songs of Japanese children combine the unique charm of Japan with the universal appeal of children's music everywhere. Some of the fifteen songs in this collection are current throughout Japan. Others are little known outside a small area. All have deep roots in history and tradition. Several are game songs that will be enjoyed by all children who have played "London Bridge is Falling Down" or "The Farmer in the Dell."

Mr. Berger's commentary on each song illuminates many facets of Japanese culture; and his arrangements, with easy piano accompaniments, make the songs suitable for unison or two-part singing by children or adults. The complete Japanese text, in both Japanese characters and Roman alphabet, is included for each song, together with a singable English version and a literal translation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Release date: Jun 15, 1968
• ISBN: 9781462912667

Book preview

FOLK SONGS OF JAPANESE CHILDREN

FOLK SONGS

OF

JAPANESE CHILDREN

Compiled, arranged, & annotated by Donald Paul Berger

illustrations by Yoshie Noguchi

CHARLES E. TUTTLE COMPANY

Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan

Representatives

For Continental Europe:

BOXERBOOKS, INC., Zurich

For the British Isles:

PRENTICE-HALL INTERNATIONAL, INC., London

For Australasia:

PAUL FLESCH & CO., PTY. LTD., Melbourne

For Canada:

M. G. HURTIG, LTD., Edmonton

Published by the Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.

of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan

with editorial offices at

Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032

Copyright in Japan, 1969

by Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc.

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 69-11087

ISBN: 978-1-4629-1266-7 (ebook)

First printing, 1969

PRINTED IN JAPAN

This Look is dedicated

to all who love to sing

and especially

to Eva and Hannah

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHILDREN'S SONGS have a wide range of appeal: for the young as well as for those of all ages. The songs of Japan are no exception. The selections in this book have been arranged with this