[Sports Day] Entrance songs that will hype the crowd! A comprehensive roundup from classics to the latest hits

protagonistNEW!SUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER 'Protagonist' MV (Theme song for Fuji TV's 'Mezamashi TV')

Let us introduce a heartwarming song crafted by the four-piece rock band SUPER BEAVER.

Released first via digital distribution in June 2025 and then as a CD single the following month, this track was chosen as the 2025 theme song for the morning news program “Mezamashi TV.” It gently accompanies each person’s everyday life, carrying a kind message that everyone is the protagonist of their own story.

Its grand band sound, enriched with orchestral instruments, quietly kindles a warm fire in your chest.

Rather than rousing you intensely, it offers a gentle push on your back, making it perfect as an entrance tune for sports days and athletic festivals—an ideal backdrop to softly encourage the athletes.

FanfareNEW!sumika

sumika / Fanfare [Music Video]

The refreshing sound gets my spirits soaring! This is a song by sumika, a rock band from Kanagawa Prefecture, released in August 2018 as a double A-side single.

It was newly written as the opening theme for the animated feature film “I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.” Its straightforward message—urging us to keep moving toward hope and light—resonates deeply.

The pop-rock sound woven from the brisk acoustic guitar strumming and sparkling piano is a perfect match for a sunny playing field.

Brimming with positive energy, this track is ideal for moments of new beginnings and serves as a rousing anthem that will make player entrances truly exhilarating!

Curtain callNEW!Yuuri

Curtain call

The entrance that sets your fighting spirit ablaze is powered by the opening theme for Season 7, Cour 2 of the anime My Hero Academia, sung by Yuuri.

Expressing a strong will to rise and move forward despite getting hurt, this song was released as a single in September 2024.

It begins with a delicate, earnest voice and then unleashes a burst of emotion in the chorus, with a dramatic melodic progression that profoundly shakes the listener’s heart.

It’s not just valiant; it’s filled with the strength to overcome hardship, making it a perfect push on the back for athletes heading into the serious arena of sports days and athletic festivals.

Brimming with passionate energy, it’s a rousing anthem recommended for anyone who refuses to yield to adversity and wants to fight with everything they have until the very end.

SignalNEW!WANIMA

WANIMA “Signal” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

WANIMA is a rock band that sets listeners’ hearts ablaze.

All of their songs are bursting with energy, making them perfect as background music for sports days and athletic festivals.

Among them, the one I especially recommend as an entrance song is “Signal”! This track is a message song born from an NHK music program and is included on the masterpiece “Everybody!!,” released in January 2018.

It also gained attention as the song for Lotte’s “Sou” commercial.

Its powerful message—“You don’t have to be perfect; it’s okay to take on challenges just as you are”—and its liberating rock sound give a strong push to athletes as they head into competition.

The exhilarating melody, which blows away everyday frustrations, instantly raises the excitement on the field and fosters a sense of unity with the crowd.

Standing on stageNEW!YOASOBI

YOASOBI "Stand on the Stage" Official Music Video

YOASOBI is a hugely popular music duo consisting of composer Ayase and vocalist ikura.

Released in 2024, this work was dropped at the perfect moment—on the day of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony—and was also selected as NHK’s sports theme song.

Its appeal lies in lyrics that empathize with those heading to a grand stage and a fast-paced rock sound that conveys the fiery energy of a live band.

The vocals are delivered with a wind-cutting momentum, guaranteed to amp up the excitement the moment they echo across the field! It’s a highly recommended track to play as an entrance march, uniting not just the athletes but the supporters as well in a shared thrill.

InfernoNEW!Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Inferno

How about a rock number with a sound that amps you up from the intro and irresistibly sharp, cutting vocals? Crafted by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, this track was chosen as the opening theme for the anime Fire Force.

Since Motoki Omori, who handles vocals and guitar, was a fan of the original manga, he distilled its worldview into the music.

It was released digitally in July 2019 and is also included on their album Attitude.

According to Oricon’s figures, its cumulative streaming plays surpassed 500 million by 2025, showing its enduring popularity.

With a sound that exquisitely balances “darkness” and “a sense of speed,” it’s perfect BGM for a competition where everything is decided right here and now!

Carry OnNEW!EXILE

EXILE / EXILE LIVE TOUR 2015 ”AMAZING WORLD” 「Carry On」

Carry On is recommended for situations where you want to overcome any obstacle and move forward! It’s a double A-side single released in May 2004 by EXILE, the dance and vocal group that has led entertainment since the 2000s.

It was also used in a commercial for Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Amino-Value, and its exhilarating melody and powerful beat are unforgettable.

The song carries a message that boosts self-affirmation and forward momentum toward dreams, wrapping entrance scenes at sports days and athletic festivals in positive energy.

If you march to this driving sound that has long been beloved at live shows, it will surely lift the athletes’ spirits significantly!