Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

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

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

Last updated:2025/9/18

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 liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs (1–10)

DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE "Darling" Official Music Video

DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE

An encouraging anthem that gently stays by your side and gives you a push forward, dedicated to everyone who feels anxiety and uncertainty in the midst of youth.

With Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s signature emotional, catchy melodies and lyrics rich with messages that boost self-esteem, it resonates deeply.

Released in January 2025, the song was written for NHK General’s special program “Mrs.

GREEN APPLE 18-sai Matsuri” and featured a special performance alongside 1,000 members of the 18-year-old generation.

Play it as the finale of a sports day or school athletic festival, and you’re sure to end on a moving, memorable note!

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Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Blue and Summer

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Let’s hype up the venue with an emotional rock number! This track, chosen as the theme song for the film “Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi” (Blue Summer: The 30 Days I Fell in Love with You), is by the rock band Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, known for their energetic sound, and was released in 2018 as their seventh single.

School sports days are often associated with the cooler autumn season, but no matter how low the temperature drops, our hearts still burn with passion! It’s a fiery classic that’s perfect for events like these!

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Mela!Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Mela!' Music Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Mela!

Mela!Ryokushokushakai

It’s a coming-of-age anthem filled with a burning desire to become a hero.

Born from the pure wish to help the precious friends right in front of you, the song vividly portrays the protagonist’s emotions as they overcome doubt and inner conflict to take a step forward.

Included on the June 2020 album “SINGALONG,” this track became Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s signature song.

It’s perfect for sports days and athletic festivals, giving you the courage to carve out your own story with the brightest memories in your heart.

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We AreONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK: We Are [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

We AreONE OK ROCK

With its powerful message and hope-filled lyrics, this song stirs the hearts of young people.

While grappling with struggles against societal judgment and prejudice, it conveys a strong will to cherish one’s true self and keep moving forward.

Included on the album “Ambitions,” it has received high acclaim since its release in January 2017.

On NHK’s “18 Festival,” ONE OK ROCK and 1,000 members of the 18-year-old generation created a once-in-a-lifetime stage, producing a moving moment.

Paired with a group gymnastics performance, it can express the importance of teamwork and the determination to take on a shared goal.

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Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it’s embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Is Youth Embarrassing?' Official Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Hazukashiika Seishun wa

Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it's embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai

An uplifting youth anthem featuring a dynamic melody and a driving, fast-paced sound.

Released by Ryokuoushoku Shakai in July 2024 as the theme song for an ABEMA dating show, it captures the anxieties and aspirations of adolescence and the brilliance of giving your all, expressed through powerful vocals and a grand arrangement with a 40-piece orchestra.

The track is also included on the album “Channel U,” and since its first live performance at Sukima Fes, it has been featured on numerous music programs.

It’s perfect for events like sports days and athletic festivals where you go all out with your friends.

A song that gently supports students living their “only-now” moments to the fullest.

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Let’s give it a tryWANIMA

au Santaro TV commercial: “Let’s Try It” edition (60 seconds + making-of footage)

Let's give it a tryWANIMA

This song is actually a cover of the British folk tune “Picnic,” which everyone has probably heard at least once.

If you’re thinking, “What’s that?”, you’ll likely recognize it when you listen to WANIMA’s “Yatte Mio”! It’s the song that often plays in au’s popular Santaro series of commercials.

Who would’ve thought a British folk song could become so captivating with WANIMA’s approachable rock arrangement! The lyrics—encouraging you to not get discouraged by anything and to just give it a try—make it perfect for a sports day where everyone’s giving their best.

It’s also a great fit as background music for walking races or obstacle courses.

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Taki no namida pin ku

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RunLittle Glee Monster

『Run』 – Little Glee Monster

RunLittle Glee Monster

This song, with its bright, uplifting message and powerful vocals, is an ambitious work by Little Glee Monster.

It emphasizes the importance of continuing to push toward your dreams and goals, serving as a cheer for those taking a new step forward.

Created in collaboration with Meiji Probio Yogurt R-1 to support new first graders, it was included on the album “Ambitious,” released in March 2025.

Its energetic rhythm and heartfelt message will encourage children giving their all with their teammates at sports days and athletic festivals.

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