Japanese Children’s Song - Lift Your Palms Toward the Sun - てのひらをたいように

Lyrics and Translation in Description!

This song was originally written as a family song instead of a kids song. Later on, it became one of the most popular kids songs in Japan. It can be found in most music textbooks in elementary schools throughout Japan. You can really feel the joy of life from this song!

Japanese Lyrics:

ぼくらはみんな　生きている
生きているから　歌うんだ
ぼくらはみんな　生きている
生きているから　かなしいんだ
手のひらを太陽に　すかしてみれば
まっかに流れる　ぼくの血潮(ちしお)
ミミズだって　オケラだって
アメンボだって
みんな　みんな生きているんだ
友だちなんだ

ぼくらはみんな　生きている
生きているから　笑うんだ
ぼくらはみんな　生きている
生きているから　うれしいんだ
手のひらを太陽に　すかしてみれば
まっかに流れる　ぼくの血潮
トンボだって　カエルだって
ミツバチだって
みんな　みんな生きているんだ
友だちなんだ

English Translation:

We are all alive
We are all alive and that's why we sing
We are all alive
We are all alive and that's why we get sad

If I hold my palms up to the sun and look up
I can see through my red blood flowing through my body

Even worms, crickets and waterbugs
Are all alive. They are all our friends.


We are all alive
We are all alive and that's why we laugh
We are all alive
We are all alive and that's why we are happy

If I hold my palms up to the sun and look up
I can see through my red blood flowing through my body

Even dragonflies, frogs and honeybees
Are all alive. They are all our friends.