[March, Foot Races, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest hits to liven up a sports day
When it comes to sports day music, many people might think of classical pieces like ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ (Infernal Galop from ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’).
However, in recent years, more schools have been using pop songs and anime tracks as background music in addition to the classic staples, making the selection more diverse.
In this article, we’ll introduce lively songs that perfectly match the sports day atmosphere—not only long-standing classics but also popular J-POP tunes among elementary and middle school students.
Use this as a reference for your playlist!
- [Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
- Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals
- [Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
- [Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to
- From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.
- [March] Carefully selected popular songs recommended for entrance and exit at sports days and athletic festivals!
- Popular songs recommended for nursery school sports days! A roundup of classic crowd-pleasers and the latest hits
- Recommended exit songs for sports day: A collection of tracks that are perfect for a brisk, quick-march exit.
- Cheer songs to hype up the sports day! A collection of motivational tracks recommended for kids
- Get Fired Up! A Collection of Anime Songs to Hype Up Your Sports Day and Athletic Festival
- Perfect for sports day parachute routines! Recommended J-pop songs
[Marching, Footraces, Dance] Energetic Songs and the Newest Tracks to Liven Up Sports Day (61–70)
Linda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTS
THE BLUE HEARTS are a legendary rock band whose influence is cited by countless artists currently active at the forefront of the J-pop scene.
Their major-label debut single, “Linda Linda,” has become synonymous with THE BLUE HEARTS, thanks in part to its electrifyingly impactful performances.
Its explosively catchy chorus and fast, punkish ensemble are sure to boost participants’ energy even at a sports day.
It’s an eccentric rock tune that continues to be loved across generations.
Koo Lu LeeTōkyō Dizunīrando Beimakkusu
This is a lively, friendly dance track used for the Baymax’s Happy Ride attraction at Tokyo Disneyland.
It’s a song that lets you feel the fun of moving your body to the rhythm, featuring original choreography that uses both hands and feet.
Kids can pick it up quickly, making it perfect for school sports days and recreational dances.
Just like the attraction, it brings out energetic movements and smiles, brightening the atmosphere across the venue.
It’s also easy to add your own arrangements, encouraging creativity from each team—another big draw.
The content is easy to incorporate into recitals as well.
Highly recommended as a dance track that both performers and spectators can enjoy together.
Rat-tat-tatSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
From the initial bass drum rhythm, I thought it might be suited for a march.
The BPM is 150—75 if you count it in half—so it feels a bit slow, but I felt it would work well for marching while dancing.
I also got the sense that it would be easy to match with group gymnastics.
It might not fit as well for races like sprints, so the use cases could be limited, but the tempo is easy to dance to and I think it’s ideal for dance.
These days, performances have become more diverse, so I think it can be used for a variety of things.
It’s a recommended track.
The World Is Ours!Naoto Intiraymi
The original is an English song.
This track has been arranged as a Japanese version, but it’s still a song you can get hyped to.
It’s Naoto Inti Raymi’s 13th single and was used as a song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The chorus line is well-known, and it has an up-tempo feel typical of a cheer song.
rainbowTakahashi Yuu
It’s a rousing cheer song with lyrics full of passion that really fires up school sports days.
Chosen as the theme song for the National High School Baseball Championship in summer, it became one of Yu Takahashi’s signature tracks.
It’s also frequently used at sports days, making it a perfect anthem to cheer on hard-working kids!
GUTS!arashi
Even after suspending their group activities, the five-member idol group Arashi has continued to shine individually in various fields.
Their 43rd single, “GUTS!”, which was chosen as the theme song for the TV drama ‘Even If You’re Weak You Can Win: Mr.
Aoshi and the Ambitions of the Clumsy High School Baseball Players,’ lifts your spirits right from the choral intro.
Its positive lyrics are sure to fire you up for competitive moments like a school sports day.
With its catchy melody and pleasing ensemble, it’s a perfect number for background music.
Wake Up!AAA
A song by the performance unit AAA, specially written as the theme for the anime ONE PIECE, evokes a rising sense of excitement toward embarking on an adventure that reflects the work’s worldview.
With a band sound that incorporates brass timbres, it conjures a grand, bright scene reminiscent of blue skies and the open sea.
It’s a track that conveys joyful emotions—expressing the courage to move toward one’s goals and the happiness of moving forward together with companions.
