[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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Cheer Songs for Sports Day: A roundup of classic cheer anthems and recommended tracks for parody versions (21–30)
William Tell OvertureRosshīni
Within the grand narrative woven by the orchestra, this masterpiece brilliantly fuses powerful imagery with rich musicality.
Rossini depicts natural scenes—from dawn to storm, then to a peaceful pastoral landscape—with meticulous tone colors, culminating in a heroic fanfare that captivates listeners with overwhelming force.
Since its Paris premiere in 1829, it has become a timeless classic, and has been adopted as the theme for Fuji TV’s “Ore-tachi Hyōkin-zoku” and the American series “The Lone Ranger.” Widely used as a staple BGM at sports festivals as well, its dynamic melodies stir the hearts of competitors and sweep audiences into a whirl of excitement—a truly splendid piece.
A view I’ve never seen beforeSuda Masaki
It’s an emotional rock number that makes you want to sing and shout until your voice gives out.
It was actor Masaki Suda’s debut single as a singer, released in 2017.
The song was featured in au’s commercial supporting Japan’s national soccer team and became a hot topic.
The overall tone of the track is one thing, but Suda’s passionate vocals are just insanely cool.
You can feel motivation welling up from deep inside as you listen.
Even as a parody, the song’s intensity doesn’t fade!
IdeaHoshino Gen
This song begins with a playful, rolling marimba tone.
It’s by Gen Hoshino, a singer-songwriter who’s also a popular actor.
Chosen as the theme song for the NHK morning drama “Half Blue” (Hanbun, Aoi), it became a hot topic and was released as a digital single in 2018.
Its fast-paced tempo makes it perfect as a cheering song for the 100-meter dash or relays.
Since the lyrics mention color names, it might be fun to change them to match your team’s color when you sing it.
NIPPONShiina Ringo
An emotional cheer song that inspires the drive to win at a sports day.
It’s a track by singer-songwriter Ringo Sheena—who also fronts the band Tokyo Jihen—released in 2014.
The song was written as a theme for an NHK soccer program.
The lyrics evoke a distinctly Japanese, traditional atmosphere that pairs perfectly with the high-energy composition, naturally lifting your spirits as you listen.
The word “blue” appears in the song, so you can make that your team color.
Let’s give it a tryWANIMA
I want to beat my opponents, I want to win with my teammates, I want to surpass who I’ve been so far… a sports day is also a chance to take on a challenge.
So here’s a hit song by WANIMA, a three-piece rock band from Kumamoto Prefecture.
Released in 2017 as a digital single, it became a hot topic after being featured in a commercial.
Since it’s based on the English folk song “The Picnic,” the melody is easy to remember! That also makes it simple to create a parody version.
Belt it out together with your whole team, riding the song’s momentum!
AgainWANIMA
How about some melodic hardcore that fills you with motivation and energy as you listen? This is a track by WANIMA, a three-piece band from Kumamoto Prefecture.
It’s included on their 2019 single “Good Job!!”.
The passionate, heart-stirring lyrics ignite the spirits of those dedicated to their sport.
Let’s all put our arms around each other and sing together.
GUTSarashi
The perfect song for cheering on your classmates as they shine at a school-wide sports day is “GUTS!” Released in 2014 by the nationally beloved idol group Arashi, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Even If You’re Weak, You Can Win: Mr.
Aoshi and His Ambitious High School Baseball Team.” It features a catchy sound with a bright, brassy band arrangement.
As a full-throttle, positive cheer song, it’s perfect for the excitement of a heated sports day! Why not straighten your posture like a cheer squad and send your best shout of encouragement?
