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Doyo: Children’s Songs

In 1872, soon after the start of the Meiji era, the new government adopted a national system to educate the entire population. Music classes featuring shoka(songs authorized by the Ministry of Education) started as a part of the elementary school curriculum. Shogaku shokashu [Collected songs for elementary schools], the nation’s first collection of shoka edited by Shuji Isawa, came out in 1881. Shoka were designed to instill in children the will of the nation and aesthetic ideas as advocated by the nation. Doyo(children’s songs) that began being published in children’s magazines and elsewhere in the Taisho era were by contrast much freer and more artistic in style.

Today, the leading writers of doyo and lyrics for children are Michio Mado, Hiroo Sakata, Shuntaro Tanikawa, and Naoko Kudo.

Thumbnail of Shogaku shoka shu, shohen [Collected songs for elementary schools, the first part]

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D-1Shogaku shokashu, shohen [Collected songs for elementary schools, the first part]
Compiled by Institute for Musical Inspection (later Tokyo Music School), Ministry of Education
HOLP SHUPPAN, Publishing 1971
(Nihon jido bungakukan: Meicho fukkoku, furoku [Japanese children's literature, republished edition of masterpieces, supplement])
Call No. KH6-23(First ed. 767.7-M753s)
Reprint of a book published by the Ministry of Education in 1881. Songs were approved to be sung at school and music became an official school subject that same year. This three-part publication was Japan's first educational material to include songs. Shown here is the book’s cover.

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D-2Hanasaka jiisan [The old man who made the dead trees blossom]
Written by Hakushu Kitahara/Illustrated by Takeo Takei and others
ARS 1923
(Hakushu doyo [Children's songs by Hakushu] 5)
Call No. 児乙部23-K-14
This is an original work from Hakushu Kitahara's mature stage.

Thumbnail of Akai tori doyoshu [Children’s song  collection of Red bird]

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D-3Akai tori doyoshu [Children’s song collection of Red bird]
Edited by Hakushu Kitahara
Ozorasha 1997
(Sosho Nihon no doyo [Series of Japanese children's songs])
Call No. Y8-M98-121(First ed. 603-236)
Reprint of a book published by Rogosu Shoin in 1930. A selection of doyo (children's songs) that appeared in Akai tori [Red bird], from its original issue to the March 1929 issue. Shown here is the book's slip sleeve.

Thumbnail of Aoi me no ningyo: Noguchi Ujo doyoshu [Blue-eyed doll: The collection of children's songs by Ujo Noguchi]

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D-4Aoi me no ningyo: Noguchi Ujo doyoshu [Blue-eyed doll: The collection of children's songs by Ujo Noguchi]
Written by Ujo Noguchi
Ozorasha 1996
(Sosho Nihon no doyo [Series of Japanese children's songs])
Call No. Y9-3068(First ed. 522-246)
Reprint of a book published by Kin no Hoshi Sha in 1924. This second anthology of doyo (children's songs), written by Ujo includes 77 pieces. Shown here are the book's slip sleeve and cover.

Thumbnail of Shojo junjo shishu [The collection of pure poems for girls]

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D-5Shojo junjo shishu [The collection of pure poems for girls]
Written by Yaso Saijo
Ozorasha 1996
(Sosho Nihon no doyo [Series of Japanese children's songs])
Call No. Y9-3057
Reprint of a book published by Dainihon Yubenkai Kodansha in 1936. The first edition of this story depicting the inner world of a young maiden was published in 1932. Shown here is the book's slip sleeve.

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D-6Shinjushima: Doyoshu [Pearl island: The collection of children's songs]
Written by Rofu Miki
HOLP SHUPPAN, Publishing 1974
(Nihon jido bungakukan: Meicho fukkoku, dainishu [Japanese children's literature: Republished edition of masterpieces, part.2] 15)
Call No. KH6-23(First ed. 501-256)
Reprint of a book published by ARS in 1921. This first anthology of doyo (children's songs) written between 1918 and 1921 by Rofu Miki was dedicated to Hakushu Kitahara. Shown here is the book's slip sleeve and cover.

Thumbnail of Ohisama: Doyoshu [The sun: Collection of children's songs]

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D-7Ohisama: Doyoshu [The sun: The collection of children's songs]
Written by Rofu Miki
Ozorasha 1996
(Sosho Nihon no doyo [Series of Japanese children's songs])
Call No. Y9-3067(First ed. 児乙部26-M-5)
Reprint of a book published by ARS in 1926. The second anthology of doyo (children's songs) by Rofu Miki includes many written in praise of nature. Shown here are the book's slip sleeve and cover.

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D-8Nihon doyoshu [The collection of Japanese children's songs]
Edited by Jun’ichi Yoda
Iwanami Shoten 1958
(Iwanami bunko [Iwanami library])
Call No. 911.58-Y677n
This outstanding selection of Japanese doyo (children's songs) includes over 300 pieces. Shown here is Nanatsu no ko [Seven children] and others.

Thumbnail of Noyuki yamayuki: Shonen shojo shikyokushu [To fields, to mountains: The collection of boys and girls poems]

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D-9Noyuki yamayuki: Shonen shojo shikyokushu [To fields, to mountains: The collection of boys and girls poems]
Written by Jun’ichi Yoda
Dainippon tosho 1973
(Kodomo toshokan [Children's library])
Call No. Y7-3600
Yoda further developed the genre of doyo (children's songs) that was pioneered by Hakushu Kitahara, Yaso Saijo, Ujo Noguchi and others. This anthology includes songs into which he poured his soul, creating songs that could be appreciated as poetry for young people.

Thumbnail of Akarui ho e: Kaneko Misuzu doyoshu [To the bright side: The collection of children's songs by Misuzu Kaneko]

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D-10Akarui ho e: Kaneko Misuzu doyoshu [To the bright side: The collection of children's songs by Misuzu Kaneko]
Written by Misuzu Kaneko/Selected by Setsuo Yazaki
JULA Publishing Bureau 1995
Call No. Y9-1426
A second book of selected doyo(children's songs), chosen from Misuzu Kaneko's complete works.

Thumbnail of Utsukushii machi, ge [The beautiful town, vol. 2]

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D-11Utsukushii machi, ge [The beautiful town, vol. 2]
Written by Misuzu Kaneko/Supervised by Setsuo Yazaki
JULA Publishing Bureau 2003
(Kaneko Misuzu doyo zenshu: Gendai kanazukai ban [Complete works of children's songs by Misuzu Kaneko: Modern kana orthography version] 2)
Call No. KH248-H85
Kaneko Misuzu zenshu [Complete works of children’s songs by Misuzu Kaneko] was edited by Junichi Yoda et al and published by JULA Publishing Bureau in 1984. It is the first complete edition of works by the author.

Thumbnail of Tenpura piripiri [Tempura piri piri (Sizzling)]

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D-12Tenpura piripiri [Tempura piri piri (Sizzling)]
Written by Michio Mado/Illustrated by Yutaka Sugita
Dainippon tosho 1968
(Kodomo toshokan [Children's library])
Call No. Y7-1117
The publication of this first anthology of poems became a turning point for the author at age 58. Includes some old pieces but mostly consists of new pieces of work.

Thumbnail of Mado Michio zenshishu shinteiban [Complete works of poems by Michio Mado, the revised edition]

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D-13Mado Michio zenshishu shinteiban [Complete works of poems by Michio Mado, the revised edition]
Written by Michio Mado/Edited by Eiji Ito
Riron-Sha 2001
Call No. KH335-G661
First edition published in 1992. Throughout his stories, he presents a unique perspective on children and universe.

Thumbnail of Yuki to roba: Doyoshu [Snow and a donkey: The collection of children's songs]

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D-14Yuki to roba: Doyoshu [Snow and a donkey: The collection of children's songs]
Written by Seika Tatsumi
Ozorasha 1997
(Sosho Nihon no doyo [Series of Japanese children's songs])
Call No. Y8-M98-119(First ed. 児乙部31-T-1, 623-43)
Reprint of a book originally published by ARS in 1931. First anthology of doyo (children's songs) by Tatsumi, who was an editor at ARS. Shown here is the book’s slip sleeve.

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D-15Sacchan [Satchan]
Written by Hiroo Sakata/Illustrated by Makoto Wada
Kokudosha 2002
(Gendai Nihon doyoshi zenshu; daihachikan [The complete collection of contemporary Japanese children's songs and poems; vol. 8])
Call No. Y8-N03-H43
Originally published as vol.13 of Kokudosha no shi no hon [Kokudosha's poem book] series. The titled poem became Sakata's first doyo (children's songs) after music was added to the poem. It was performed live on radio and eventually a record was made.

Thumbnail of Yuhi ga senaka wo oshitekuru [The sunset pushes my back]

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D-16Yuhi ga senaka wo oshitekuru [The sunset pushes my back]
Written by Hiroo Sakata/Illustrated by Jun Takabatake
Kokudosha 1983
(Shi no ehon [Picture book of poems])
Call No. Y17-9485
The title poem was set to music set to music for broadcast on NHK [Japan Broadcasting Corporation]'s music program Minna no uta [Songs for everyone] in 1968. The poem itself was also included in Japanese textbooks.

Thumbnail of Okasan: Sato Hachiro/Iwasaki Chihiro shigashu [Mother: The collection of poems and illustrations by Hachiro Sato and Chihiro Iwasaki]

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D-17Okasan: Sato Hachiro/Iwasaki Chihiro shigashu [Mother: The collection of poems and illustrations by Hachiro Sato and Chihiro Iwasaki]
Poems written by Hachiro Sato/Illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki
Kodansha 1989
Call No. Y8-6471
The poem Okasan [Mother] was read as part of a television series aired starting in 1959. Hachiro is the first son of the author Koroku Sato.

Thumbnail of Daremo shiranai [Nobody knows]

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D-18Dare mo shiranai [Nobody knows]
Written by Shuntaro Tanikawa/Illustrated by Hanmo Sugiura
Kokudosha 2002
(Gendai Nihon doyoshi zenshu; daisankan [Complete works of contemporary Japanese children's song and poems; vol. 3])
Call No. Y8-N03-H42
Originally published in 1976 as vol.18 of the Kokudosha no shi no hon [Kokudosha's poem book] series. The title poem was set to music for broadcast on NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)'s Minna no uta [Songs for everyone].

Thumbnail of Nohara uta [A field sing-a-long] 1

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D-19Noharauta [A field sing-a-long] 1
Written by Naoko Kudo
Dowa-ya 1984
Call No. KH297-911
A story featuring animals, plants, and trees as the main characters and published as a five-volume series.