From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day
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!
- Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals
- [Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
- [Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
- [Sports Day] Recommended songs for tug-of-war: powerful BGM that ignites your fighting spirit
- Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.
- [March, Foot Races, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest hits to liven up a sports day
- Recommended Songs for Group Gymnastics: A Collection of Tracks to Elevate Your Routine [2026]
- [Sports Day BGM] A selection of classic tunes that liven up the venue
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- Get Fired Up! A Collection of Anime Songs to Hype Up Your Sports Day and Athletic Festival
- [To All Athletes] Inspirational Sports Anthems & Empowering Theme Songs
- [Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to
- Cheer songs to hype up the sports day! A collection of motivational tracks recommended for kids
Cheering Songs (1–10)
OrangeSPYAIR
Released in February 2024, SPYAIR’s song is a gem crafted as the theme for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle.
Centered on encounters with teammates and the bonds between them, it sings of the courage and hope to keep moving forward.
Its up-tempo beat fits perfectly with running scenes at school sports days.
Surely many children will love this track.
Included on the EP, the song marks the fourth collaboration between SPYAIR and the Haikyu!! series.
As an answer song to the previous theme songs, the lyrics weave together phrases from past tracks with new lines.
swallowYOASOBI with Midorīzu
It’s a pop song that sings of hope for the future.
Released in October 2021, it was used as the theme song for NHK’s children’s SDGs program “Hirogare! Iro Tori Dori.” Born from a collaboration between YOASOBI and the group Midories, the piece beautifully blends children’s pure voices with electronic sounds.
It was also broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in October and November 2021, warming the hearts of even more people.
Along with its grand melody, it carries a powerful message that small individual actions can create great change, making it an excellent choice for dynamic moments in group gymnastics performances.
It’s a perfect track as BGM for synchronized large-group routines at school sports festivals and athletic meets.
Cheering Songs (11–20)
Music Collection for Sports Day: Go Go GoZama Yoshihiro
This is a collection of pieces that set the perfect mood for each scene, from the brass band’s essential, dazzling fanfares at sports festivals to the excitement during events.
Performed powerfully by the JGSDF Eastern Army Band, it includes music suitable for various moments such as opening and closing ceremonies and award presentations.
Arranged by trombonist and composer Yoshihiro Zama, the album centers on bright, lively marches and fanfares, featuring a rhythmic and dynamic structure.
Introduced at the 2015 Japan Band Directors Clinic, it’s a highly practical album widely used by educational institutions nationwide and at community events.
It’s an ideal choice not only for those planning and managing sports days, but also for anyone considering music for sporting events.
Ten Thousand Cheers, A Thousand ChantsRADWIMPS
This is a song by RADWIMPS created together with a thousand 18-year-olds for a special NHK program.
It carefully depicts, like a single story, the dreams and anxieties of young people and their forward-looking steps into the future, resulting in an energetic, stirring anthem of encouragement.
Included on the album ANTI ANTI GENERATION, it became a much-talked-about gem in 2018.
Born from the passionate feelings of the youth involved, the piece was also performed on RADWIMPS’ nationwide ANTI ANTI GENERATION TOUR 2019.
As a song that colors energetic scenes where large groups move as one—like at sports festivals or group gymnastics—it naturally envelops the venue in a positive atmosphere.
One Heartatarashii gakkou no rīdāzu
This is a new cheer song by Atarashii Gakko! that stresses the importance of coming together as one, delivered with a powerful message.
It gives a push to those looking ahead and moving forward, while conveying the importance of keeping your smile even amid worries.
The music video, filmed with about 300 fan club members, unfolds in a gymnasium with a breathtaking performance amid a flurry of confetti.
Released in March 2025, the track is also featured in a new Bourbon commercial, showcasing a new side of the group who have built a unique world with their albums “Ma-Ningen” and “Wakage Gaitaru.” It’s perfect not only as a theme song for school and cultural festivals, but also as an uplifting anthem for anyone starting a new chapter in life.
StaRtMrs. GREEN APPLE
This song is packed with a catchy melody and an uplifting message.
Its breezy pop-rock sound and crisp, dynamic rhythm feel great, making it a track that encourages you every time you listen.
Even when things don’t go well, it delivers a powerful cheer: return to your roots and make a fresh start.
Included on Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s major-label debut mini-album “Variety,” it was featured in commercials for Kao’s Merit and served as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Super Addictive! Hilarious Character Parade.” This piece is recommended for scenes where new challenges begin, such as opening ceremonies or athlete entrances at school sports days.
It’s a song that unites the entire venue and elevates everyone’s spirits for the competition ahead.
Relay race (11–20)
Relays and sprints are the star attractions of any sports day. To hype up the events, nothing beats tracks with a real sense of speed. We’ll start by introducing classic staples like “Csikós Post” that make you want to take off running the moment you hear them! These well-known classical pieces are great, but there are also fast-paced songs in trending J-pop that fit relays and sprints perfectly, so if you’re interested, be sure to check those out too! Reference article:[Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
Reference article:[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
Relay race (1–10)
Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy
This is a moving piece by Vaundy that depicts the powerful determination to pursue one’s dreams, guided by a cherished song of memories held in the heart.
With a warm tone that cheers on adults who tend to lose their innocent passion and awakens the origins sleeping within, it leaves a strong impression.
Since its release in May 2020, its singable, catchy melody and powerful sound have gradually gained popularity, reaching No.
3 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in January 2023.
The exhilarating rhythm and fiery message make it perfect as background music for a relay where you and your teammates aim for first place.