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 energize sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs (11–20)

SPECIALZKing Gnu

SPECIALZ/King Gnu [Osaka Toin Brass Band]

SPECIALZKing Gnu

A stunning work that fuses energetic sound with a dark, weighty atmosphere! Emphasizing living true to one’s emotions, it portrays the journey of confronting life’s complexity and uncertainty while discovering a bond with someone special.

Showcasing King Gnu’s multifaceted musicality to the fullest, the song was released in September 2023 as the opening theme for the MBS/TBS anime Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2: Shibuya Incident, and surpassed 100 million streams on Billboard Japan.

With its powerful rhythm and driving melodic line, it’s sure to make entrances and exits at sports days and athletic festivals shine even brighter, wrapping the entire venue in excitement.

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peace signYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Peace Sign

peace signYonezu Kenshi

Peace Sign was the opening theme song for the anime My Hero Academia.

Kenshi Yonezu is known for songs with occasional dissonance and quirky twists, but this one is standard and straightforward, with a strong “hero anime theme song” feel.

It’s an uplifting, motivational anthem that really fires you up—perfect for a school sports day, too.

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New EraAdo

[Ado] New Genesis (Uta from ONE PIECE FILM RED)

New EraAdo

“New Genesis” is Ado’s song that has garnered attention as the theme for the film ONE PIECE FILM RED.

With her powerful vocals and production by Yasutaka Nakata, it’s a striking track that conveys a message about changing the world through the power of music.

Included on the album Uta no Uta ONE PIECE FILM RED, it dominated music charts both in Japan and abroad after its release.

Notably, on Apple Music it became the first Japanese song to reach No.

1 worldwide, capturing the hearts of many listeners.

This number, which inspires hope for a new world, is perfect for sports festivals and school field days, too.

Ado’s vocals are sure to give you a motivational boost.

Try using it for entrance scenes and more to amp up the excitement!

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Crazy F-R-E-S-H BeatSnow Man

Snow Man「Crazy F-R-E-S-H Beat」Dance Video (YouTube Ver.)

Crazy F-R-E-S-H BeatSnow Man

Formed in 2012 and debuting in January 2020, Snow Man’s “Crazy F-R-E-S-H Beat” is included on their debut single.

This track, a bit different from past Johnny’s songs, is highly danceable and has been praised across a wide audience as “cool!” It’s the kind of song with a sense of speed that fits perfectly for a school sports day.

Whether for cheering or dancing, it works naturally in any scene and is sure to get everyone hyped.

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Happinessarashi

Happiness Arashi, KomaHan ver.

Happinessarashi

Just playing it would spark shouts like “So nostalgic!” and “This is insane!” From the guitar’s takeoff in the intro, the excitement is irresistible.

Isn’t it such a joy to listen to? It’s a timeless banger—one that really makes you feel the power of idols.

Just like the lyrics say, it makes you want to take off running.

The catchy melody sticks in your head.

I feel like if you played it at a field day or sports festival, it would instantly set the perfect vibe.

It’s guaranteed to boost your motivation.

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AgainWANIMA

WANIMA “Again” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

AgainWANIMA

Written specifically for the drama Maison de Police starring Mitsuki Takahata, Again naturally ties in with the show’s story.

It’s also a classic WANIMA cheer song, with straightforward lyrics that give you a push on the back.

WANIMA’s songs just go straight in, don’t they? This one does too—an uplifting track that energizes people who are taking on a challenge.

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Carefully selected J-POP to energize sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs (21–30)

Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Tomorrow Too”

Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO

This is an approachable cheer song inspired by the electric atmosphere felt while watching a match of the soccer team Kawasaki Frontale.

Released in February 2017 as a track on the album “SHISHAMO 4,” it gained wide recognition through a tie-in with an NTT Docomo commercial.

Singing about the joy of meeting your heroes on the weekend and the energy you gain there, the song features warm lyrics that convey the support of those around you and hope for the future.

Even in tough or discouraging times, it’s a stirring track that gives you the courage and strength to look ahead, making it a perfect accompaniment for moments of purposeful steps forward, such as entrance scenes at sports days and openings of athletic festivals.

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