Music is a creative way people from different parts of the world express themselves and their culture. Music is a thread that unites the world because the moment we are born, we have a heartbeat, a rhythm within us; a rhythm we all share. We can learn much about a culture by exploring the musical instruments people play and the songs they sing. The koto and the taiko are popular musical instruments in traditional Japanese music.

The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument derived from Chinese zithers. The koto has 13 strings that are strung over 13 movable bridges along the length of the instrument. Players can adjust the string pitches by moving these bridges before playing. Picks on the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger are used to pluck the strings.

Listen to the koto.

Taiko, which means "drum" in Japanese, are large drums with heads on both sides that are struck with drumsticks. Outside Japan, taiko often refers to the art-form of ensemble taiko drumming called "kumi-daiko." These ensemble taiko drumming performances are exciting to watch as the musicians keep rhythms through choreographed movements, often jumping between beats to play different drums.

Listen to the taiko.

To further enhance the cultural bridge between Japan and the United States, I have included songs for children in Japanese and English.

Ya Ne Yo Re
Hear this song, sung by Pam Donkin  

Ya ne yo r/le tah kah ee
Koh eh no bo r/li
Oh oh kee ee mah go ee wah
Oh toh oh sah mm
Chee sah ee hee go ee wah
Ko do mo ta-ah chi
Oh mo shi low sha ah nee
Oh yo ee day r/loo

English Translation:

The karp flag is flying higher than the roof.

Kuma San – A Little Bear

Kuma san, Kuma san maware migi
Kuma san, Kuma san ryote wo tsui te
Kuma san, Kuma san kata awhi agete
Sayonara

English translation:

A Little Bear – Kuma San

A little bear, a little bear, right turn around
A little bear, a little bear, hands touch the ground
A little bear, a little bear, skipping with your one foot
Goodbye

North American school children know this song as Teddy Bear.

Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, Teddy bear turn around
Teddy bear, Teddy bear touch the ground
Teddy bear, Teddy bear show your shoe
Teddy bear, Teddy bear that will do
Teddy bear, Teddy bear go upstairs
Teddy bear, Teddy bear say your prayers
Teddy bear, Teddy bear turn out the light
Teddy bear, Teddy bear say good night.

Haru ga Kita – Spring Has Come

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 ni naku, sato ni naku
No ni mo naku.

English translation:

Spring Has Come – Haru ga Kita

Now it is spring time, now it is spring time
Where has it come?
To the hillside, to our home and
Meadow it has come.

Flowers are blooming, flowers are blooming
Where are they in bloom?
On the hillside, to our home and
Meadow they’re in bloom.

Birds are singing, birds are singing
Where do they sing?
On the hillside, in our home and
Meadow, hear them sing.

Ame, Ame – Raining, Raining

Ame, ame, fure, fure kasan ga
Janome de omu kai
Ure shii na
Pi chi, pi chi, cha pu, cha pu, ran, ran, ran
Pi chi, pi chi, cha pu, cha pu, ran, ran, ran

English translation:

Raining, Raining – Ame, Ame

Raining, raining how it’s raining
Rain a little more
Mother’s bringing my umbrella
It can rain and pour
Pitter patter, pitter patter, drip, drip, drop
Pitter patter, pitter patter, drip, drip, drop

Sara Watashi - Plate Passing

Sara watashi, sara watashi
Sizuka ni watashi te, koware nu yo ni
Oni no shira nu uch ni.
Iwa ya!

English translation:

Plate Passing - Sara Watashi

Let’s pass a plate around, pass a plate around
Pass it gently to the next one; pass it gently not to break
Let’s not tell her who has the plate
Open your eyes!

Kaeru No Uta – Frog Song
Hear this song, sung by Johnette Downing  

Kaeru no uta ga
Kikoete kuruyo
Gwa, gwa, gwa, gwa
Gero gero gero gero gwa gwa gwa

English translation:

Frog Song – Kaeru No Uta

The song of the frog
I can hear
Croak, croak, croak, croak
Ribbit ribbit ribbit ribbit croak croak croak

Japanese, English, Spanish and Arabic Game Song

Japanese Translation:

Jan-Ken-Pon (Scissors, Stone, Paper)

Jan-ken-pon yo, jan-ken-pon
Jan-ken-pon yo, Goo, cho-ki, pa

English Translation:

Rock, Paper Scissors

Rock, paper, scissors
One, two, three

Spanish Translation:

Piedra, papel, tijera
Uno, dos, tres

Arabic Translation:

Hajra, warqa, mqess (stone, paper, scissors)
or
Bir, warqa, mgess (well, paper, scissors)

Resources:

Children Sing Around the World, Favorite Children’s Songs from Many Lands! by Mel Bay Publications

Favorite Songs of Japanese Children, Collected and Translated by Hanako Fukuda

Roots and Branches, A Legacy of Multicultural Music for Children by Patricia Shehan Campbell, Ellen McCullough-Brabson and Judith Cook Tucker

Wee Sing Around the World by Pamela Conn Beall and Happen Nipp

Wikipedia