If you are starting your journey to learn Japanese through music, “Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun” (Swim! Taiyaki-kun) is arguably the best song to start with.
Released in 1975 by Masato Shimon, this song is legendary. It holds the Guinness World Record as the best-selling single in Japan’s physical music history. But why should you learn it?
First, the tempo is moderate, making it easy to follow. Second, the pronunciation is crystal clear. Third, it tells a funny yet slightly melancholic story about a Taiyaki (a traditional Japanese fish-shaped cake) who wants to escape from the hot griddle and swim freely in the ocean.
In this guide, we provide phonetic lyrics designed for absolute beginners, so you can sing along immediately without knowing how to read Hiragana or Kanji.
Official Video: Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun
How to Read Our “Easy Phonetics”
We don’t use standard Romanization here. We use a phonetic spelling protocol that mimics how English speakers naturally pronounce sounds.
- “Ee” sounds like the ‘ee’ in “See“.
- “Oh” sounds like the ‘o’ in “Go“.
- “Ah” sounds like the ‘a’ in “Father”.
- Bold text indicates where you should put a slight stress/emphasis.
Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun: Phonetic Lyrics & Translation
Here is the full breakdown of the song. Try to read the “Easy Phonetic” column while listening to the song.
Verse 1: The Complaint
| Japanese (Romaji) | Easy Phonetic Lyrics | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mainichi mainichi | My-knee-chee my-knee-chee | Every day, every day |
| Bokura wa teppan no | Bo-koo-rah wah tep-pan no | We are on the iron griddle |
| Ue de yakarete | Oo-eh deh ya-kah-reh-teh | Being baked / grilled |
| Iya ni natchau yo | Ee-yah knee nat-chau yoh | I really hate it / I’m getting sick of it |
| Aru asa boku wa | Ah-roo ah-sah bo-koo wah | One morning, I… |
| Mise no ojisan to | Me-seh no oh-jee-san toh | With the shop owner (uncle) |
| Kenka shite | Ken-kah she-teh | Had a fight / Quarrelled |
| Umi e nigekonda no sa | Oo-me eh knee-geh-kon-dah no sah | And escaped into the sea |
Chorus: The Freedom
| Japanese (Romaji) | Easy Phonetic Lyrics | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hajimete oyoida | Ha-jee-meh-teh oh-yoy-dah | For the first time, I swam |
| Umi no soko | Oo-me no soh-koh | At the bottom of the sea |
| Tottemo kimochi ga | Tot-teh-moh key-moh-chee gah | It feels so… |
| Ii mon da | Ee mon dah | Very good / pleasant |
| Onaka no anko ga | Oh-nah-kah no an-koh gah | The red bean paste in my belly |
| Omoi kedo | Oh-moy keh-doh | Is heavy, but… |
| Umi wa hiroi ze | Oo-me wah he-roy zeh | The sea is vast! |
| Kokoro ga hazumu | Koh-koh-roh gah hah-zoo-moo | My heart is bouncing (excited) |
| Momoiro sango ga | Moh-moy-roh san-goh gah | The pink coral |
| Te o furu yo | Teh oh foo-roo yoh | Is waving its hand |
| Bokura wa oyogu no sa | Bo-koo-rah wah oh-yoh-goo no sah | We are swimming |
Verse 2: The Adventure
| Japanese (Romaji) | Easy Phonetic Lyrics | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mainichi mainichi | My-knee-chee my-knee-chee | Every day, every day |
| Tanoshii koto bakari | Tah-noh-shee koh-toh bah-kah-ree | Only fun things happening |
| Nanpasen ga | Nan-pah-sen gah | A shipwreck |
| Boku no sumika sa | Bo-koo no soo-me-kah sah | Is my home |
| Tokidoki same ni | Toh-key-doh-key sah-meh knee | Sometimes, by a shark |
| Ijimerareru kedo | Ee-jee-meh-rah-reh-roo keh-doh | I get bullied, but… |
| Sonna tokiya | Son-nah toh-key-yah | At times like that |
| Sou sa nigeru no sa | Soh sah knee-geh-roo no sah | That’s right, I just run away |
Ending: The Sad Truth
| Japanese (Romaji) | Easy Phonetic Lyrics | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ichinichi oyogeba | Ee-chee-knee-chee oh-yoh-geh-bah | If I swim for a whole day |
| Harapeko sa | Hah-rah-peh-koh sah | I get hungry |
| Me no mae chira chira | Meh no mah-eh chee-rah chee-rah | Flickering in front of my eyes |
| Oishisou na esa | Oy-she-soh nah eh-sah | Is some delicious-looking bait |
| Pakkuto tobitsuita | Pak-koo-toh toh-bee-tsui-tah | I jumped and bit it “Chomp!” |
| Kore de mou owari da | Koh-reh deh moh oh-wah-ree dah | This is the end now |
Vocabulary Corner: Words You Must Know
Don’t just sing it, understand it! Here are 5 essential Japanese words found in “Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun” that you will use often in real life.
1. Mainichi (毎日)
- Meaning: Every day.
- Context: Used at the very beginning. You can use this in daily conversation, for example: “Mainichi benkyou shimasu” (I study every day).
2. Umi (海)
- Meaning: Sea / Ocean.
- Context: The Taiyaki escapes to the Umi. Japan is an island nation, so this word appears frequently in songs and anime (like in One Piece).
3. Tanoshii (楽しい)
- Meaning: Fun / Enjoyable.
- Context: “Tanoshii koto bakari” means “Only fun things”. Use this when you are having a good time.
4. Taberu (食べる)
- Meaning: To eat.
- Grammar Note: In the song, it appears in the passive form “Taberarechau” which means “To end up getting eaten”. It implies a regretful feeling.
5. Kimochi ga Ii (気持ちがいい)
- Meaning: Feels good / Pleasant.
- Context: Used when the Taiyaki first swims. You can use this when you feel a nice breeze or take a relaxing bath.
Singing Tips for Beginners
Even with phonetic lyrics, Japanese rhythm can be tricky. Here are two tips to sound more native when singing this song:
1. Watch the Double Consonants (The Small ‘Tsu’)
In the word Teppan and Pakkuto, you see double letters (pp, kk). In Japanese, this indicates a small pause.
- Don’t sing: Te-pan
- Sing: Tep… (pause) …pan
Think of it like a hiccup in the rhythm. This small silence is crucial for the rhythm of the song.
2. The Nasal “G” Sound
In traditional Japanese singing (like in this song), the “G” sound in particles like ga often sounds nasally, almost like “Nga”.
- Anko ga -> sounds like Anko nga.
Trying this technique will instantly make you sound like an Enka (Japanese folk ballad) singer!
Conclusion
“Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun” is more than just a children’s song; it’s a cultural icon about the desire for freedom. By learning this song, you’ve mastered basic Japanese pronunciation and learned some very common vocabulary.
Want to learn more?
If you struggle with memorizing these lyrics, check out our guide on How to Use Mnemonic Devices to Memorize Song Lyrics.
Ready for the next challenge? Try singing a faster song like 10 Easy Songs to Help You Learn Japanese