[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!
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- Cheer songs to hype up the sports day! A collection of motivational tracks recommended for kids
- Recommended cheer songs for elementary school students: popular tracks to listen to when you want a boost
- 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.
Cheer Songs for Sports Day: A roundup of classic cheer anthems and recommended tracks for parody versions (21–30)
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
A signature song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, chosen as the theme for the youth film Aonatsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-nichi starring Yuto Sano and Wakana Aoi.
Its 100% pure, unforgettable, youth-filled chorus is sure to hype up any sports day or athletics festival.
The powerful chorus lines—“There was a signal that summer had begun; the drama isn’t only in the movies; we’re the main characters”—could even be adapted into a cheer song to motivate your team.
Since there are many lyrics, it’s best to have people who can read sheet music take the lead in crafting good lines.
Also recommended as BGM for relays and cavalry battles!
The Star-Spangled Banner ForeverJohn Philip Sousa
Composed in December 1896 and regarded as a masterpiece representing American marches, this work is captivating for its majestic and dignified character.
It opens with a powerful fanfare, followed by a rhythmic melody that unfolds with vibrant energy.
The brilliant piccolo solo in the middle section is especially striking, lifting the listener’s spirits.
In 1987, it was designated the National March of the United States and has been performed at national events and celebrations.
It is an ideal piece for entrance marches at school sports days and athletic festivals, recommended for moments when you want to heighten anticipation before competitions or energize the entire venue.
Accompanied by its vigorous music, the sight of athletes marching in with confidence will leave a strong impression on all who watch.
Cheering Songs for Sports Day: A roundup of classic cheer tunes and recommended songs for parody versions (31–40)
FateOfisharu Higedan Dism
All of you students have spent days preparing for the sports festival, right? The song that celebrates those days is “Shukumei.” It was released in 2019 by the four-piece band Official HIGE DANDism and was chosen as the 2019 ABC Summer High School Baseball support song.
It features a groovy yet tight band sound, and Satoshi Fujihara’s soulful vocals will resonate in your heart.
It’s a warm track that will remind you of the days you worked hard together with your classmates.
How about playing it as background music when you’re cheering on your teammates as they take the big stage?
OH!SHISHAMO
This is a song by SHISHAMO, a three-piece girls’ band from Kanagawa.
Its uplifting message combined with a refreshing rock sound gives it a youthful vibe.
If everyone sings it together, it will surely encourage those in the middle of a competition.
It’s also great as background music.
Listening to it will make you want to take off running at full speed.
Full-Power BoySukima Suichi
This song by Sukima Switch was released in 2005, so it’s from more than 10 years ago.
Since I still hear it often, it doesn’t feel that old.
With its refreshing and upbeat vibe, isn’t it the perfect track to cheer on a school sports day?
paprikaYonezu Kenshi
Try singing along while dancing with everyone! This song was born from NHK’s “2020 Cheer Song Project,” and the version sung by the music unit Foorin was broadcast on “Minna no Uta,” creating a buzz.
After that, a version sung by Kenshi Yonezu himself—who wrote, composed, and produced the song—was released.
The tempo is on the relaxed side, so it’s recommended to sing it arm-in-arm with your friends.
The lyrics and melody aren’t fast, so it should be easy to create parody versions with substitute lyrics!
Summer Colorsyuzu
The debut single by Yuzu, the folk duo consisting of Yujin Kitagawa and Koji Iwasawa.
With a refreshing melody perfect for summer, it’s a classic that feels pleasant and easy for anyone to hum along to! It was used as the approach melody at Keikyu Main Line’s Kamiōoka Station and in commercials for Lotte’s ice cream “Sō.” Beyond the duo’s fresh vocals, the lyrics evoke youthful memories, making it a great pick for school festivals.
Since tight harmonies are a hallmark of the song, performing it on stage is sure to get the crowd excited.
