Natsu wa Kinu

Natsu wa Kinu, or Summer Has Come, is a traditional Japanese nursery rhyme and song that centers on the imagery of the changing seasons. The song was published in 1912 by the Ministry of Education as part of the Jinjo Shogaku Shoka series, a collection of songs designed to standardize musical education in Japanese primary schools during the Meiji and Taisho eras. It was composed by Koyata Koyama with lyrics by Tokichi Sasaki, both of whom were prominent figures in the effort to integrate Western-style melodies with traditional Japanese sentiments.

The song is deeply rooted in the imagery of early summer in Japan, specifically referencing the call of the cuckoo and the blooming of the卯の花 (unohana) flowers. Musically, it is noted for its evocative, nostalgic tone, which helped it endure as a staple of Japanese childhood. It has been featured numerous times in NHK's long-running program Minna no Uta, which frequently adapts classic Japanese shoka to introduce younger generations to these cultural touchstones through animation and vocal performances.