Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

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.

Carefully selected J-pop to hype up your sports day/athletic festival! Also great as entrance songs (141–150)

PERFECT HUMANRADIO FISH

【LIVE】PERFECT HUMAN / RADIO FISH

PERFECT HUMANRADIO FISH

An addictive piece of electronic music that will hype up any sports day or field day! This hit by RADIO FISH, the performance group led by the comedy duo Oriental Radio, was released in 2015 as their sixth single.

While the lyrics are full of humor, the sound is cool and seriously well-crafted.

The rhythm and tempo seem perfect as BGM for running events like the 100-meter dash or relays.

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Ten Thousand Cheers, A Thousand ChantsRADWIMPS

Banzai Sensho

Ten Thousand Cheers, A Thousand ChantsRADWIMPS

This song by RADWIMPS was created together with a thousand 18-year-olds for a special NHK program.

It carefully weaves the dreams and anxieties of young people—and their forward-looking steps into the future—into a single, story-like piece, resulting in an energetic, stirring anthem of encouragement.

Produced in response to the passionate feelings of the youth and included on the 2018 album ANTI ANTI GENERATION, the track is perfect for scenes overflowing with the unified energy of large groups, like school sports festivals or coordinated performances, naturally filling the venue with an uplifting, positive atmosphere.

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RisingYoshida Kyōdai

Yoshida Brothers 'RISING'

RisingYoshida Kyōdai

This is a track whose moving Tsugaru shamisen tones instantly lift the energy of the venue.

It’s included on the Yoshida Brothers’ album RISING, released in February 2005.

Chosen as the TV commercial song for Asahi Super Dry, it captured the hearts of many.

The traditional timbre of Japanese instruments and modern arrangements fuse beautifully to create a unique sound world.

The shamisen’s intense yet beautiful sound is also popular as BGM for weddings in traditional Japanese attire.

Use it as an entrance song for sports days or athletic meets, and it’s sure to fire up the competitors and captivate the crowd!

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My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Zenzenzense (movie ver.) [Official Music Video]

My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS

This song was produced as an insert track for the anime film Your Name, which became a massive hit across society.

It’s also one of RADWIMPS’s signature songs and is popular among people who perform wotagei.

Since it’s a song everyone knows, it’s sure to liven up a school sports day or athletic festival.

Its up-tempo feel makes it perfect as background music for races or scavenger hunts.

If your school runs entrances and exits at a jogging pace, it could also be very handy as a “transition BGM” between events.

If you use it for a cheering battle, it might be fun to perfectly copy the wotagei routine!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Bloom with a pop, scatter, and turn to ashCreepy Nuts

[MV] Creepy Nuts – Bloom in a Flash, Scatter, and Turn to Ash

Bloom with a pop, scatter, and turn to ashCreepy Nuts

The official high school baseball theme song by Creepy Nuts portrays a heated, valiant, last-ditch battle.

Featuring a sound that evokes raw, rough-edged youth and lyrics that capture the resolve and determination of those who face the decisive moment, the track powerfully expresses the harshness and inner conflicts of the competitive world, as well as the passion of challengers.

Released in March 2022 as the official theme song for the 94th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament on MBS, it was later included on the album “Ensemble Play.” As a song that pushes everyone to step up to the big stage before them, it has resonated deeply with many listeners.

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SunMy Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Sun

SunMy Hair is Bad

It’s a song by My Hair is Bad imbued with the freshness of a spring breeze.

Vivid depictions unique to high school baseball—pre-game nerves, the smell of mud on the field, the sound of the brass band—resonate deeply.

The members’ past and present feelings intertwine, resulting in a gem that fires up the hearts of its listeners.

Released in March 2024, the track was written as the official theme song for MBS for the 96th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.

At their show at Saitama Super Arena, they created a moving stage together with a full house of fans.

It’s a work that will resonate not only with those who have memories of the baseball club, but with anyone who threw themselves wholeheartedly into their youth.

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Sun KnockNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'Taiyo Knock' Short Ver.

Sun KnockNogizaka 46

When it comes to songs that match the fiery excitement of a sports festival, Nogizaka46’s 2015 release “Taiyou Knock” stands out.

It’s a track that turns outdoor field events into even more thrilling moments.

Their rich choral work over a refreshing melody line conjures images of students sprinting past.

It’s an upbeat tune that energizes a sports day full of different challenges under clear, sunny skies.

Be sure to check out this youth anthem that brims with freshness and passion.

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