![[Sports Day Cheer Songs] A roundup of classic cheer songs and recommended tracks for parody versions](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/QjrkrVmC-8M/maxresdefault.webp)
[Sports Day Cheer Songs] A roundup of classic cheer songs and recommended tracks for parody versions
Cheer songs and background music are essential for sports days and athletic festivals! Classic staples that make you want to start running the moment you hear them are a given, but it’s also long been common to rewrite the lyrics of popular J-pop songs and sing them as parodies.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of Japanese songs that are perfect for cheering at school sports events! Of course, we’ve also picked out songs that will hype up the crowd even if you sing them as-is.
Be sure to read through to the end!
[Sports Day Cheer Songs] Summary of Classic Cheer Anthems and Recommended Songs for Parodies (1–10)
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
Delicately portraying both the radiance and bitterness of youth, this work by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE weaves a profound message into its gentle melodies.
It reflects not only the shining memories of student days, but also the struggles of confronting real-world obstacles, giving it the powerful quality of an uplifting anthem.
Selected as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Oblivion Battery” starting in April 2024, the song achieved remarkable success, winning the Grand Prix at the 66th Japan Record Awards.
It’s recommended both as a track to energize the crowd with its dynamic guitar rock sound at school sports days and athletic festivals, and as an empowering song for taking a new step forward.
Yes, with pleasure.kocchi no kento
This is a song released by Kocchinoken-to in May 2024, an uplifting anthem that pairs a catchy rhythm and melody with a heartwarming message.
The “Giri Giri Dance,” which spread mainly through social media, became a hot topic as an easy, accessible performance for everyone and has been a huge hit as background music and a cheer song at school sports days.
The track packs a powerful, confidence-boosting message into its up-tempo sound, keeping you feeling positive from start to finish.
It also garnered major buzz on TikTok and even led to a collaboration with Sanrio characters.
Its breezy, get-you-running rhythm and friendly, singable melody are part of its charm.
Perfect not only for school sports festivals and athletic events, it’s also a great pick-me-up for everyday motivation.
One Heartatarashii gakkou no rīdāzu
A song that brings everyone’s hearts together! It’s a青春 (coming-of-age) cheer anthem that echoes through the gym.
Atarashii Gakko no Leaders created a brand-new song for Bourbon’s “Fettuccine Gummi” TV commercial, premiering in March 2025.
This powerful track expresses the drive to keep moving forward, and through fans’ cheers and dance performances, it brings both adults and kids together in excitement.
For the music video shoot, about 300 fans gathered to pull off a large-scale group performance in a gymnasium.
It’s a fresh, energetic, and powerful song that will lift spirits not only at graduations and sports days, but also for anyone starting a new chapter in life.
Love will winKAN
Known as one of KAN’s most popular songs, “Ai wa Katsu” (“Love Will Win”) is also included on the album “I Wanted to Be a Baseball Player.” The lyrics, which say that memories of being loved give you strength and help you in any situation, are truly empowering to hear.
Although it was released in 1990, it still comes up in conversation often, so there are likely people in younger generations who know it.
If you want to make a parody version, try replacing the word “love” with your class or team name and sing it that way.
idolYOASOBI
YOASOBI’s song “Idol,” known as the opening theme for the anime Oshi no Ko, features lyrics that portray the duality of an idol, mirroring the character Ai Hoshino from the show.
It’s highly acclaimed by anime fans and is popular not only in Japan but worldwide.
Since it’s a song everyone knows, it could really liven things up as a cheer song for a school sports day.
If you use it as a parody, how about a theme where someone is working hard to excel at the sports day but doesn’t show any of that effort?
Bling-Bang-Bang-BornCreepy Nuts
A track marked by powerful beats and addictive phrases, it vividly portrays a protagonist who fights with muscle as a weapon in a world where magic is the norm.
Set to an up-tempo rhythm and inventive sound design, it expresses the life of a hero with strength and conviction that defy common sense.
This song, which incorporates Jersey club elements—arguably Creepy Nuts at their best—debuted in January 2024 as the opening theme for Season 2 of the anime Mashle: Magic and Muscles.
Together with its opening visuals, it became a hot topic and sparked a new culture on social media where music and dance fused as one.
It’s a track that resonates with anyone who holds an unbreakable spirit and the courage to take on challenges.
100% CourageNYC
Yuki 100%, famous as the opening theme of the TV anime Nintama Rantaro, was originally a song by Hikaru Genji.
It’s a classic that has been passed down by Johnny’s idols like Hey! Say! JUMP and NYC.
The lyrics—saying that even if you cry or fall down, you just have to be brave and do your best—make it a perfect song for a sports day cheer.
It works great as-is, but you could also try swapping “courage” (yūki) with “championship” (yūshō) or “victory” (shōri).
By all means, turn it into a parody version and have everyone sing your original cheer song!
