[Sports Day Cheer Songs] A roundup of classic cheer anthems and recommended parody-song picks [2026]
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
- Songs that hype up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals: Japanese Music / J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]
- Recommended cheer songs for elementary school students: popular tracks to listen to when you want a boost
- [2026] Curated J-POP to Energize Sports Days and Athletic Festivals! Also Great as Entrance Music
- [Dance Tracks] Perfect for School Sports Days! A Curated Selection of Fun, Popular Songs to Dance To [2026]
- Sports Day/Athletics Festival: Crowd-Pleasing Cheer Battle Ideas and Performances
- Get hyped! A collection of Vocaloid songs to energize your sports day and athletic festival
- [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] Summary of Classic Cheer Songs and Recommended Parodies [2026] (41–50)
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!
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
Limit-Break x SurvivorHikawa Kiyoshi
Released in 2017 as the theme song for the TV anime Dragon Ball Super.
It’s sung by enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa.
This is a powerful, fast-paced rock-style track that’s perfect as BGM for a school sports festival.
The song also drew major attention for its visual-kei-inspired makeup and intense live performances.