Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day

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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Many people struggle with choosing songs for sports day, don’t they?

Here, we introduce perfect tracks for each scene—from classic staples ideal for sports day to upbeat J-pop and Western hits that get everyone excited!

Well-known songs can hype up the crowd, but using the same ones every year can get old…

We’ve curated a selection of tracks to solve that problem.

You’ll find refreshing tunes that make you want to start running and motivational anthems that give you courage.

Use this article as a guide to make your sports day even more fun and exciting!

Cavalry Battle (1–10)

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Blue and Summer

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

A signature song by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE that was chosen as the theme for the youth film “Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi,” starring Yuto Sano and Wakana Aoi.

Its chorus, overflowing with 100% pure youthful energy that you’ll never forget, is sure to fire up any sports day or athletic festival.

In particular, it’s a perfect fit for high-energy events like cavalry battles and relays.

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI

SEKAI NO OWARI “Highest Altitude” ONE PIECE Lyric MV

Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI

A song released by SEKAI NO OWARI in 2023, written as the theme for the anime ONE PIECE.

Its upbeat lyrics and fast-paced sound are perfect for a cavalry battle at a school sports festival! The fanfare-like sound in the instrumental break is also glamorous.

It’s a track that conveys not only speed but warmth, too, which will make you feel even more determined to fight it out to the very end with your friends.

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migratory bird[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Wataridori (MV)

migratory bird[Alexandros]

When it comes to songs that amp up the excitement of intense events like cavalry battles, “Wataridori” tops the list.

Released in 2015 by the band [Alexandros], known for their distinctive rock sound, it’s a beloved staple at school sports days and athletic festivals.

The lyrics, themed around a bird flying endlessly, resonate with students taking on various events and are sure to energize the entire venue.

It’s a rock number with a light yet passionate sound that makes you want to break into a run.

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RISINGYoshida Kyōdai

Yoshida Brothers 'RISING'

RISINGYoshida Kyōdai

RISING is perfect for a kiba-sen horseback battle where the whole team joins forces.

Performed by the Yoshida Brothers, masters of Tsugaru shamisen, it was released in 2005.

The track opens with grand drumming, so it’s a great choice to play right at the starting signal.

The passionate band arrangement interwoven with the timbre of the Tsugaru shamisen will heat up the competition.

How about using this Japanese-flavored instrumental as your BGM?

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InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Inferno

InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE

This song, used as the opening theme for the anime Fire Force, conveys a sense of speed from the very first drum beats and a feeling that something is about to begin.

In events where momentum is crucial—like cavalry battles—it will surely boost athletes’ motivation with a “Let’s go!” spirit.

In fact, the song encapsulates both transience and passion, asking what meaning we find in a life that will one day end and how we live with that awareness.

It’s an ideal track for spending your school days—a youth that will inevitably come to an end—with burning intensity.

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SenbonzakuraWagakki Band

Wagakki Band / Senbonzakura

SenbonzakuraWagakki Band

Senbonzakura by Wagakki Band, formed by blending traditional Japanese instruments—shakuhachi, koto, Tsugaru shamisen, and taiko—with Western instruments like guitar, bass, and drums.

Unlike the original track by Kurousa-P, it takes on a different atmosphere, gaining a unique allure through its added Japanese aesthetic.

The driving rhythm can boost athletes’ motivation and may help them draw out more than their usual performance.

It’s sure to fire up the cheering, too.

The lyrics, which feel like issuing a challenge to battle, are a perfect fit for events like cavalry battles.

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Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSA

LiSA “Gurenge” -MUSIC CLIP YouTube EDIT ver.-

Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSA

It’s LiSA’s 15th single, released in July 2019.

It served as the opening theme for the TV anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and with the anime’s massive success, it became LiSA’s biggest hit and brought her widespread recognition.

The song overflows with determination, resolve, and energy: no matter how many times you’re knocked down, if you have a dream you can’t give up on, you can stand up again and again.

Even if sorrow was the beginning, if what you’ve learned from it lets you protect someone, you can even feel grateful for it.

It’s a track that pushes athletes taking on challenges forward and fires up the hearts of the audience.

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Parachute (11–20)

A “parachute” performance involves everyone holding a large, round piece of fabric, inflating it, or going underneath it, and working together to change its shape.

Especially popular as a staple event at nursery and kindergarten sports days, parachute routines often use well-known anime theme songs or trending J-pop that kids love.

We’ve picked some recommended tracks—let’s take a look! Reference article: Perfect for sports day parachute routines! Recommended J-pop songs