Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.

For entrance BGM at sports days and athletic festivals, you want tracks that ignite your fighting spirit and instantly boost the excitement.

Having a different entrance song for each event definitely amps up the atmosphere.

For your picks, the classic marching tunes that are staples at sports days are great, of course, but recent J-pop hits are also highly recommended.

In this article, we’ll introduce songs that light a fire in your heart and get you motivated—perfect for entrances!

We’ve gathered tracks with a variety of vibes, so choose the ones that best match the participants’ ages and the feel of each event.

[Sports Day / Athletic Festival] Songs That Hype Up the Athlete Entrance (21–30)

Break the glass!Keyakizaka46

Keyakizaka46 'Break the Glass!'

Break the glass!Keyakizaka46

Among Keyakizaka46’s songs, the rock tune Glass wo Ware! stands out for its strikingly aggressive attitude.

Released in 2018, it’s moving to see the members embody the powerful lyrics with wholehearted dance performances.

You might even pick it as a hype dance track for a sports festival.

The song conveys a message of fighting to gain freedom even at the cost of loneliness, and its fast tempo and intense expression will put you in fighting mode.

The feel of the opening fits perfectly with an entrance scene.

It’s guaranteed to ignite your fighting spirit!

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Everyone is free.Half time Old

Minnajiyuda

Everyone is free.Half time Old

Sung by the rock band Half time Old, the theme song for au’s Santaro commercial series becomes a hot topic every time a new ad comes out.

With its fresh, energetic, and bright vibe, the song is perfect for school sports days and athletic festivals! As the title “Minna Jiyū da” (“Everyone Is Free”) suggests, the lyrics carry a message with a warm, embracing power that seems to accept all the worries young people face—making it an ideal fit for student-run sports events.

It’s an upbeat, lively-tempo track, so make a spirited, energetic entrance!

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Sports Day/Athletic Festival: Crowd-Pleasing Entrance Songs for Athletes (31–40)

Under the banner of the double-headed eagleJosef Franz Wagner

Under the Double Eagle (Under the Banner of the Double-Headed Eagle)

Under the banner of the double-headed eagleJosef Franz Wagner

Isn’t the opening fanfare something everyone has heard at least once? It was composed by Josef Franz Wagner during the period when he served as a military bandmaster of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and it celebrates the Habsburg monarchy’s Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The “double-headed eagle” was the Habsburg family crest.

It is a march with a clear and rhythmic character.

Wagner is also known as the “Austrian March King,” in reference to his contemporary John Philip Sousa.

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MiracleGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Kiseki

MiracleGReeeeN

It fired up the drama with passion as the theme song for TBS’s series ROOKIES.

It always played at the best moments, and Ryuta Sato’s powerful performance brought me to tears… I think many parents also say that hearing this song reminds them of the show.

Of course, even apart from the drama, the song’s emotional impact doesn’t fade, so it might be effective to use it for the very last event at a sports festival or field day! It would also work well as the entrance music for the “everyone relay,” where students from all grades pass the baton.

Please play it at the moments you want to build the most excitement—like the final showdown, the championship match, and so on!

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Soul RevolutionSuperfly

Superfly 'Tamashii Revolution' Music Video

Soul RevolutionSuperfly

The quintessential hype anthem representing the 2010s, “Tamashii Revolution.” Starting from a style that draws on classic rock, this track by Superfly established a unique presence in the J-pop scene.

Chosen as a soccer theme song, it’s a beloved cheer anthem not only in sports but in all kinds of situations.

Its thick, dynamic rock sound and Shiho Ochi’s soaring vocals crank up the voltage! It’s perfect for entrance scenes to fuel that “Alright, it’s time to fight” feeling, and it’s sure to elevate all sorts of memorable moments.

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Start to shine and run forwardSambomasutā

Sambomaster / Starting to Shine and Run - MUSIC VIDEO

Start to shine and run forwardSambomasutā

Speaking of sports days and athletic festivals, the cheering really heats up, doesn’t it? “Kagayakidashite Hashitteku” is a single released in 2018 by the passionate rock band Sambomaster.

It was used as the theme song for the drama Cheer☆Dan.

The stars of a sports day or athletic festival surely aren’t just the athletes.

Its message—filled with an undefeated spirit and words of encouragement—will resonate with many people.

With reassuring rock sounds and warm lyrics, it gives you a boost of confidence right from the moment you enter the venue!

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Laugh it off ~ Xiao Yi Xiao! ~Momoiro Kurōbā Zetto

Momoiro Clover Z [MV] 'Shou Ichi Shou ~ Xiao Yi Xiao! ~' - MUSIC VIDEO -

Laugh it off ~ Xiao Yi Xiao! ~Momoiro Kurōbā Zetto

“Shō yi shō ~Xiao Yi Xiao!~” is the theme song for the movie Crayon Shin-chan: Burst Serving! Kung Fu Boys ~Ramen Rebellion~.

It’s a song that even little kids, who may not have many chances to encounter idols, have listened to.

It’s also sung during the warm, cozy moments at Momoclo’s live shows, so I think it’s perfect as an entrance march for lower-grade elementary school students.

The lyrics carry a message like, “Even if you feel uneasy, keep smiling and head toward the light!” which makes it a great fit for an excitement-filled sports day.

Besides the entrance march, it could also work for the walk-in before a walking race.

If you want to give the entire sports day a good balance of highs and lows, definitely consider this song.

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