Otanjoubi Omedetou

Otanjoubi Omedetou, which translates to Happy Birthday, is a notable musical segment produced by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. It is most prominently associated with the long-running children's program Okaasan to Issho, or Together with Mother. The segment was designed as a ritualized birthday celebration for young viewers, featuring specific animation or character segments that personalize the television experience for children watching at home during their birthday month.

The production leans into the classic NHK aesthetic, characterized by a mix of traditional cel animation and, in later years, digital compositions that prioritize warmth and accessibility. The music and visuals were crafted by the network's internal creative teams to serve as a communal bridge between the broadcast personalities and the audience. While it functions as a simple broadcast element, it has become a culturally significant artifact of childhood in Japan, reflecting the broadcaster’s long-standing mandate to provide educational and developmental content for young children.