Ofuro no Kazoe Uta

Ofuro no Kazoe Uta, which translates to The Bath Counting Song, is a musical segment originally produced by Fuji TV for the long-running children's program Hirake! Ponkikki. Premiering in the 1970s, the segment was designed to teach young viewers how to count to ten in Japanese while illustrating the daily ritual of a traditional bath. The production utilized whimsical, minimalist animation that aligned with the show's goal of blending early childhood education with catchy, rhythmic melodies.

The creative direction for the segment was rooted in the era's focus on educational television, characterized by bright visuals and repetitive, mnemonic lyrics. Like many segments from Hirake! Ponkikki, it was created to be both engaging and functional for classroom and home use. While specific design credits for individual segments were often handled by the station's internal production teams rather than external artists, the song became a staple of Japanese pop culture, celebrated for its simple yet enduringly effective pedagogical approach.