[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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Cheering Songs for Sports Day: A roundup of classic cheer tunes and recommended songs for parody versions (31–40)
Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO
This is a signature song by SHISHAMO, a girls’ band from Kanagawa.
It gained attention after being featured in a docomo commercial.
The track is included on their fourth album, SHISHAMO 4, released in 2017.
It’s an uplifting cheer song with a straight-ahead guitar rock sound that really hits the spot.
The melody is catchy and easy to remember, so even people who haven’t heard it before should be able to sing along quickly.
As a little touch during the chorus, it might be good to change the lyrics to include the name of the person competing.
peace signYonezu Kenshi
Raise your fist high in the air—absolutely! This song is by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu, known for hits like “Lemon” and “Kanden,” and it was released as a single in 2017.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime My Hero Academia, which is based on a Jump manga.
The way the song builds up toward the chorus is so cool.
As the music swells, your own excitement rises with it.
It seems perfect for a parody cheer song in individual competitions.
CharacterRyokushokushakai
The four-piece rock band Ryokuoushoku Shakai released “Character,” a song themed around being yourself and embracing diversity.
It’s also familiar as a Morinaga Confectionery VM song.
The refreshing vocals and soul-influenced sound lift listeners’ spirits.
If you’re making a parody version, it seems best to arrange the chorus where the same words are repeated.
Since it contains many yo sounds, switching to similar-sounding phrases should feel natural.
Wake up!AAA
It’s an upbeat tune that’s perfect for a sunny sports day.
It’s a song by the dance-vocal group AAA, released in 2014 as their 41st single.
It became a hot topic when it was chosen as the theme song for the hugely popular anime One Piece, loved by kids and adults alike.
The endlessly positive lyrics pair perfectly with the sparkling vocals, and just listening to it will lift your spirits! It’s a refreshingly exhilarating song that blows away worries and anxieties.
Try swapping parts of the Japanese lyrics for your team’s colors and sing it your way!
crimsonX JAPAN
A great recommendation for the Red Team’s cheer song at a sports day is “Kurenai” by X Japan.
It’s a single released in 1989 and one of X Japan’s signature tracks.
It’s also beloved as a cheer song for high school baseball, and the brass band arrangements are especially striking.
Don’t you think the lyrics about running and shouting are perfect for a sports day? It might also work well to change some of the chorus lyrics—like replacing “kurenai” (crimson) with “Red Team” and “to comfort” with “to defeat.” Definitely consider using it as the Red Team’s cheer song!
[Sports Day Cheers] A roundup of classic cheer songs and recommended tracks for parody versions (41–50)
We’ve gotta do what seems impossible.Sambomasutā
If you want to send a straightforward cheer to the players, we recommend “Dekikkonai o Yaranakucha.” Released in 2010 by Sambomaster—a band known for delivering kindness-infused rock ’n’ roll to listeners—the song has been featured in numerous media tie-ins.
The simple guitar sound unique to a three-piece band really hits home.
It’s a warm, encouraging anthem that gives you courage when you’re thinking, “Maybe I can’t do this anymore…” Try dedicating it to teammates giving their all in events like class relays or tug-of-war.
one thing or anotherFujii Takashi
“Nandaka Nanda” is the debut single by the comedian Takashi Fujii.
Released in 2000, the song also earned him a spot in the 51st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and is known as one of his signature tracks.
It’s a dance tune that makes you want to move, so it’s perfect for lively sports day scenes! It would suit running events like relays and sprints.
If you’re using it as a parody song, you might change the final line of the lyrics—try adding a message that your team will win.
