While there's no shortage of child-focused content on the internet, the argument could be made that there's a severe lack of truly good child-focused content. This isn't unique to English-speaking regions either; trudging through the slop on YouTube in Japanese language produces just as many horrifying 3D abominations as any other country. But as a recent father, and someone who would prefer not to listen to seemingly AI-generated music 16 hours a day, I went digging – and actually managed to find some pretty incredible corners of the category.

My household has a strong love for a wide array of music, and wherever possible, it's something we'd absolutely love to pass on to our child. I've been working with and covering music, especially Japanese music, for nearly a third of my life at this point – yet, somehow, the name Synapusyu never crossed my desk.

For anyone who, like me, was unfamiliar, Synapusyu is a baby/toddler-focused TV program that airs Monday to Friday on TV Tokyo at the early hours of 07:30 to 08:00. Originally launched in 2020, the program has quickly amassed a cult-like following amongst parents, and for good reasons – it's a short-segmented series with intricate set design, fresh characters, and perhaps most importantly, great music.

If you grew up internationally, you're probably familiar with programs like Yo Gabba Gabba! and how they would integrate real-world established musicians into their episodes as guest contributors. If there were ever a program to breach into that territory on a domestic level, it would most definitely have to be Synapusyu. Calling on the talent of some of Japan's most in-demand up-and-coming artists, as well as established names, all to create original songs that don't just play out child-friendly, but actually deliver on being outright earworms.

From artists like chelmico, Pop Never Dies, and Pasocom Music Club, all the way to ROAD OF MAJOR and beyond, Synapusyu is delivering music that not only leaves our toddler dancing, but also creates an environment where I don't fear opening up YouTube to play their favorite songs. And that prefaces my favorite point of this all – Synapusyu doesn't limit itself to TV Tokyo, but instead takes a proactive approach, making itself available on YouTube for anyone, anywhere to watch.

Now, not every song from the program is produced with that certain grit that would work its way into my own playlist, but that shouldn't be the case anyway. What every song does have, however, is a hand-crafted approach filled with intricate design motifs that truly do feel aimed at inspiring creativity within the sponge that is a toddler's mind. Songs weave in and out of languages, Japanese, English, French, and more, blending design motifs from each country with a child-first flair.

I'd also be remiss not to mention another prominent program, even if it's not entirely focused on the baby/toddler demographic, which is Minna no Uta (Songs for Everyone), a program that's been airing daily via national broadcaster NHK since 1961. It's something I'll definitely be exploring in more depth as my child gets older, but many of our readership will already be familiar with the types of artists it draws in – from Kenshi Yonezu to Mariya Takeuchi, it has long been a hotbed of talent throughout its 60+ years on-air. Keep an eye on the site, however, as we'll definitely be covering its impact more in-depth in the future.

Jumping back, Synapusyu is one of those tools that I feel, especially in Japan, should be in the back pocket of any modern parent. With a full roster of songs you can dance alongside your child to, and just as many songs to put them to sleep, we all want to make sure that creativity is at the forefront of our children's learning experience – and until they're old enough to pick up a paint brush themselves, I'll be enjoying this over Baby Shark any day of the week.

For those interested in checking out more information on Synapusyu, be sure to visit the program's official website or YouTube channel.