[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!
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- [Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to
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- [Youth Songs] Songs that liven up sports days and athletic festivals. Music that adds color to the event.
- Recommended cheer-up songs for middle schoolers: Classic Japanese hits that will empower student life
- [To All Athletes] Inspirational Sports Anthems & Empowering Theme Songs
- Before a match or when you feel like giving up! Cheer songs to keep you going in club activities
- Let's send our teammates a powerful cheer! A roundup of cheer calls for sports day.
[Sports Day Cheering Songs] A roundup of classic cheer songs and recommended tracks for parody versions (81–90)
loveHoshino Gen
One of Gen Hoshino’s signature songs, with a very pop feel, so it can be used in any scene at a school sports day or athletic festival.
It’s extremely popular among younger generations, so many people know the choreography; it’s used not only during competitions but also for cheering and dance-related events.
Be kind to othersTHE BLUE HEARTS
This is a song from the indie era before the debut of THE BLUE HEARTS, one of Japan’s representative punk bands.
With its straightforward message of “Do your best,” it’s an easy song to put your heart into when cheering someone on.
Incidentally, the original working title was “Ganbare no Uta” (The Song of ‘Do Your Best’).
DuelPENGUIN RESEARCH
PENGUIN RESEARCH is a rock band known for producing many anime songs.
This track is also an anime tie-in, serving as the theme song for Zoid Wild.
It’s a fierce piece marked by pounding twin-pedal bass drums and a heavy guitar sound.
The driving energy really fires you up as you listen! The title, “Duel,” also fits perfectly for a sports day and is indispensable for competition!
sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI
This song also energized all of Japan as an Olympic theme.
At the 2018 PyeongChang Games, Yuzuru Hanyu’s breathtaking performance in men’s figure skating earned him the gold medal—truly one for the history books of Japanese sports.
It was also the Olympics where the achievements of the curling team were thrust into the spotlight.
Listening to this track is sure to bring back the emotion of the Olympics.
The letter-like lyrics, as if addressed to those who keep chasing their dreams, are moving as well.
Even without making a parody version, just singing it as it is can bring everyone’s hearts together!
Yo-kai Exercise No. 1Dream5
This song was used as the first ending theme for the anime Yo-kai Watch and became a big hit.
It was released in 2014 as Dream5’s 14th single.
It’s especially recommended as a cheer song for kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary schools.
It might be fun to learn the dance and have everyone dance together.
The upbeat melody makes you feel happy as you listen, so it really gets you moving energetically.
Mickey Mouse MarchBEAT CRUSADERS
You know that familiar Mickey Mouse March? This version is arranged in a punk style by BEAT CRUSADERS.
Even though it’s punk, it’s still the Mickey Mouse March, so it’s adorable.
With Beat Crusaders’ pop vibe baked in, how about using it as a fun, upbeat song for a sports day?
[Sports Day Cheer Songs] A roundup of classic cheer anthems and recommended tunes for parody versions (91–100)
Full driveKANA-BOON
Full Drive, KANA-BOON’s third major-label single.
From the intro, the rising energy is incredible, and whenever I listen to this song I get this strange feeling like, “I just can’t sit still!” I think it’s a perfect track for a sports day cheer song, too!