[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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- Songs that hype up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals: Japanese Music / J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]
- Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.
- Get hyped! A collection of Vocaloid songs to energize your sports day and athletic festival
- [Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to
- Sports Day/Athletics Festival: Crowd-Pleasing Cheer Battle Ideas and Performances
- [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 Cheer Songs] A roundup of classic cheer tunes and recommended songs for parody versions (111–120)
winding roadNovelbright
Born in January 2025, Novelbright’s latest track is an uplifting anthem filled with strength and hope for facing life head-on.
It powerfully sings about the importance of believing in yourself and moving forward along life’s winding roads.
With its grand sound and refreshing melody, it resonates deeply and gently gives listeners a push forward.
Chosen as the theme song for TV Tokyo’s Drama 9 series “Dragon of the Court,” it’s also drawing attention for its music video directed by actor Hiroshi Tamaki.
Played during the exit scene of a school sports day, it would further amplify the children’s sense of accomplishment after the events and their excitement for taking the next step.
GO!!!FLOW
It’s one of FLOW’s signature songs and has an irresistibly upbeat vibe.
Since it was used as an opening theme for the popular anime NARUTO, many kids know it.
It works as a hype/cheer song and fits perfectly for energizing competitions, making it ideal for school sports days and athletic festivals.
TRAIN-TRAINTHE BLUE HEARTS
Released in November 1998, this song is approaching its 30th anniversary since release, and you still hear it often as a cover or in commercials.
When women cover it or you get to see a different side of the song, it really reminds me how good it is.
The lyrics are encouraging and make you feel like doing your best, so I think it’s perfect for a school sports day.
Golden SoulShonan no Kaze
The tune is really cool, and playing it during an intense competition is sure to hype everyone up.
Since the lyrics are more mature, it works better for upper-grade events than for lower grades.
It’s a perfect fit for the most heated moments of the sports festival.
Critical HitRADWIMPS
Overflowing with fiery passion and strength, this is the track RADWIMPS released to the world in December 2013 on the album “X to O to Tsumi to.” The protagonist, who can’t surpass their own expectations no matter how many regrets they pile up, is striking as they wrestle between ideals and reality yet still take a bold step forward by following their true feelings.
The music video—shot at Ageo Municipal Baseball Stadium in Saitama Prefecture with 1,500 extras—was directed by Takuro Okubo.
This work harmonizes Yojiro Noda’s poetic lyrics with the band’s powerful sound to stunning effect, capturing the hearts of many listeners and dominating the on-air charts at FM stations to take the No.
1 spot.
It’s a song that gives you a strong push on the back in those moments when you want to look ahead and dash forward with everything you’ve got—like the exit scene at a school sports day.
Fly Highmilet
Fly High gently eases the nerves of athletes before their competitions.
It was included on singer-songwriter milet’s 2022 album “visions”; she is known for performing many theme songs for anime and TV dramas.
The track was also selected as NHK’s “Winter Sports” theme song.
With its grand, expansive sound, it conveys both power and beauty.
Her crystal-clear choral work is another highlight.
If you’re looking for a song to send off athletes, be sure to give it a listen.
Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it’s embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai
This song by Ryokuoushoku Shakai vividly portrays the rush of sprinting through the fleeting moments of youth.
Released in July 2024, its uptempo sound and distinctive melodic lines resonate powerfully with young listeners.
It carries a message: there’s no need to be embarrassed about giving your all—treasure the experiences you can only have in this very moment.
The track is included on the album “Channel U” and was also chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s original romance show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita.
Summer Vacation 2024.” It’s a perfect fit for scenes of coming together at school sports days or athletic events, making it an ideal choice as background music for group gymnastics as well.