[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・Races・Dance] Energetic Songs & Latest Tracks to Hype Up Sports Day (11–20)
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
This is Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s youth anthem “Ao to Natsu,” wildly popular especially among younger generations.
It’s a heart-throbbing number that feels like youth crammed in tight and bursting open—full of speed, freshness, and bittersweetness, depicting a summer coming-of-age story.
It’s the kind of song that makes you want to start running the moment you hear it, giving you a push on the back—perfect as background music for a school sports day!
Sugar Song and Bitter StepUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
Songs that get you pumped and raise your energy are perfect for school sports days, right? One such song that’s popular with kids is UNISON SQUARE GARDEN’s “Sugar Song and Bitter Step.” It’s a classic packed with elements that boost your excitement—like a rhythm that makes you happy just by listening, cool guitar work, and a catchy melody.
AgainWANIMA
This song was used as the theme for the TBS Friday drama “Maison de Police,” so it’s quite well-known.
It’s an upbeat, positive track that gives you a push forward.
With its dramatic chorus, it’s perfect not only for school sports day performances but also as BGM for relay races.
Just listening to it lifts your spirits—an uplifting youth anthem.
RunLittle Glee Monster
Marked by an upbeat, positive message and powerful vocals, this track is an ambitious work from Little Glee Monster.
Created jointly by Meiji Probio Yogurt R-1 and Little Glee Monster as a song to cheer on new first-year students, it was included on the album “Ambitious,” released in March 2025.
Its energetic rhythm and heartfelt message make it perfect for school sports days! The time spent with classmates and friends alongside this song will become irreplaceable memories for children.
fatesumika
This is a song by sumika, notable for its lyrics that start with “1,” like a counting rhyme, and its pop sound.
Released in April 2024 as the opening theme for the TV anime Dungeon Meshi Season 2, the track delivers an affirmative ode to taking on the unknown.
Its message—embracing even failure as part of the fun and enjoying life—pairs perfectly with the uptempo progression and clever, tricky sound design.
It’s a bright, uplifting song that can create a sense of unity across an entire venue when used for a dance segment at a school sports day.
A Cruel Angel’s ThesisTakahashi Yoko
An epic-scale anime song themed around angels and destiny that conveys courage and hope.
Released in October 1995, this track captivated many fans as the opening theme of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, with lyrics that brilliantly express the world of the series and Yoko Takahashi’s powerful vocals.
It’s infused with a resolve to soar into the future, a readiness to grow, and a wish for self-fulfillment, overflowing with a moving message that stirs the heart.
Its energetic rhythm and dynamic sound will add dazzling excitement to any sports day event.
[Marching, Races, and Dance] Energetic Songs and the Newest Tracks to Hype Up Your Sports Day (21–30)
KICK&SLIDESandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
For those looking for a song with simple choreography that’s fun to dance to at a school sports day, KICK&SLIDE is highly recommended.
It’s a track by the dance and vocal group Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS and was used as the theme song for the anime of the same title.
Among their songs, it stands out with a catchy arrangement—a funky yet pop number that people of all ages can enjoy.
Be sure to check out the sports day dance video choreographed by Naoki Kobayashi!
