[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 and the latest tracks to liven up Sports Day (31–40)
Let’s give it a tryWANIMA
WANIMA is a three-piece melodic hardcore band from Kumamoto Prefecture.
With vocalist KENTA’s piercing high notes and an up-tempo beat, they deliver a sound anyone can get into.
“Yatte Minayo” is a cover based on the British folk song “Picnic,” which many of you have probably heard.
While some tracks are fast and intense, they’re also catchy enough to be used at children’s sports events.
Try using it for activities that make you want to give it a go, like spoon relays or bread-eating races!
Muscatyuzu
Theme songs from nationally beloved anime are hugely popular with children, aren’t they? Yuzu’s “Muscat” was actually chosen as the theme song for the TV anime Crayon Shin-chan, which enjoys truly nationwide popularity.
Its bright, uplifting lyrics give you energy just by listening.
It would work great as a theme song for a school sports day, and since it’s a rhythmic track, it’s also perfect as background music for a dance performance.
paprikaFoorin
This song was chosen as NHK’s official 2020 song.
Since it was produced by Kenshi Yonezu, it’s popular with both children and adults.
You can watch the dance in the official video on YouTube, so it’s perfect as BGM for dance performances.
There’s also a self-cover version by Kenshi Yonezu, which has a slightly more mature feel—be sure to check that out, too.
GO!!!FLOW
FLOW is a five-member rock band that has released many songs tied in with TV anime.
GO!!! is their fourth single, released in 2004.
It was also used as the fourth opening theme for the anime NARUTO.
The song’s message gives you the power to carve out your future through your own strength, and its high-speed rock sound lifts your spirits.
With its message of seizing something, it’s a perfect fit for competitions that involve taking things from opponents, such as cavalry battles.
R.Y.U.S.E.I.Sandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
When it comes to signature songs by Sandaime J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE, “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” is the one that comes to mind.
They’re known for razor-sharp dance moves that showcase top-tier skills among Japan’s dance-vocal groups, along with vocals that have both range and depth.
This song won the Japan Record Award and landed them a spot on the year-end Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The choreography’s Running Man was widely imitated and became a social phenomenon.
Since it’s a song that feels like you’re sprinting through it, it’s perfect for a footrace, but it might also fit strength-based events like tug-of-war.
[Marching, Running, Dance] Energetic Songs and the Latest Tracks to Liven Up Sports Day (41–50)
A Trumpeter’s HolidayRuroi Andāson
It may be a bit less well known than some of the other orchestral pieces introduced in this article, but this one is also a staple at school sports days! It’s often performed by wind ensembles, and it’s famous among trumpet players for being anything but a “day off”: the fast tempo and intricate, tightly packed rhythms make its phrases particularly striking.
At the same time, it incorporates fanfare-like passages that lend it an elegant feel.
It’s a piece that heightens the tension of each event while really amping up the excitement!
Panda Herohachi
These are songs that Kenshi Yonezu, the hugely popular artist who made his major-label debut, released under the name “Hachi” during his amateur days.
Listening to them gets you pumped and makes you want to sing along.
This track, with its cool, noir-style band sound, features a very striking chorus that’s almost like scat.