[2026] Curated J-POP to Energize Sports Days and Athletic Festivals! Also Great as Entrance Music
Music is essential for staging a successful sports day or school athletics festival.
You might find yourself thinking, “I want to pick songs that will hype up this once-a-year sports celebration!” or “What tracks will boost participants’ motivation and get the audience excited too?”
In this article, we’ve gathered the perfect songs for background music and entrance scenes at sports days and athletics festivals.
From tracks that fire you up to songs that gently encourage, you’ll find plenty of pieces that work in all kinds of moments.
Let moving music set the stage for an unforgettable event.
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[2026] Carefully selected J-POP to energize sports days and athletic festivals! Also recommended as entrance songs (61–70)
Theme of Lupin the ThirdŌno Yūji
Recommended tracks that make you feel like you could run faster with them as BGM.
Or, since Lupin is a gentleman thief, using it for something like a borrowing race could add a nice storyline.
The opening is striking, so using it for either entry or exit would make a big impact.
InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE
It’s “Inferno” by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, which is hugely popular among junior and senior high school students.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime Fire Force, and it was written specifically for it, partly because the vocalist, Omori, is a fan of the original manga.
It’s a fast-paced, distinctly “Mrs.” track that would be perfect for events like sports festivals.
The way it builds up toward the chorus is really great.
KICKBACKYonezu Kenshi
KICK BACK rose to prominence after being selected as the opening theme for the anime Chainsaw Man.
Singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu released the track in 2022.
Its rapidly shifting key changes and high-velocity chorus mesh perfectly with the tense atmosphere of sports day events.
The passionate sound elevates activities that the entire student body tackles together.
It’s an energetic rock number powerful enough to blow away the anxieties and doubts of students ahead of sports day.
RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
A rock band with a distinctive singing voice that speaks directly to listeners’ hearts and an overwhelming live performance, active overseas as well, this is one of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION’s signature songs.
It’s an uplifting anthem about how it’s okay to try again even if you fail, and an up-tempo track that will hype up any sports day when played.
Sugar Song and Bitter StepUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
With its lively beat and pop sound, UNISON SQUARE GARDEN’s “Sugar Song and Bitter Step” is perfect for school sports festivals.
Released as a single in 2015 and used as the ending theme for the UHF anime “Blood Blockade Battlefront,” it reached No.
1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
“Sugar Song and Bitter Step” is a technically demanding track, featuring many moments where the music briefly stops, which is why many people use it for dance routines.
There are plenty of videos on YouTube, so why not check them out for inspiration for your sports day dance?
ultramarineYOASOBI
It’s a powerful song that gives you the courage to move forward toward your dreams and goals.
Produced by YOASOBI in September 2020, it was featured as the commercial song for Bourbon’s Alfort Mini Chocolate.
In 2021, it was selected as the theme song for Nippon TV’s high school dance club support project, Dance ONE Project ’21, and it was also performed at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in December of the same year.
Depicting a protagonist who, despite their struggles, finds their own path, this piece is a perfect fit for group gymnastics and dance, where mutual trust comes together to create something as one.
HEROAmuro Namie
Namie Amuro, the singer who sparked the “Amuraa” boom that became a social phenomenon in the 1990s and rose to fame as a charismatic icon for young women.
Her 45th single “Hero,” chosen as the NHK theme song for broadcasts of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Paralympics, features a sweeping melody woven with her beautiful vocals that truly stirs the heart.
Its dramatic ensemble mirrors the ever-changing tides of competition at sports days and athletic festivals, lifting your spirits in step.
With its powerful choral work that amps up the energy, it’s an emotional number through and through.
