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!
- [Sports Day] Entrance songs that will hype the crowd! A comprehensive roundup from classics to the latest hits
- [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: A curated selection of powerful BGM to fire up your fighting spirit!
- [March, Foot Races, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest hits to liven up a sports day
- [2026] Curated J-POP to Energize Sports Days and Athletic Festivals! Also Great as Entrance Music
- 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
- Cheer songs to hype up the sports day! A collection of motivational tracks recommended for kids
- Recommended exit songs for a sports day: a curated selection that perfectly suits a brisk, running exit!
Double Dutch (1–10)
ShineNEW!yuzu

Yuzu’s uplifting anthem is defined by its dynamic rhythm and a melody that stirs the spirit.
It captures the surge of impulse that wells up from within and powerfully supports those moving forward.
Released as a single in February 2014 and featured in a Nippon Life commercial, it’s likely a song many have heard.
Later included on the album “New World,” this track is notable for its grand, stadium-filling arrangement.
The sense of exhilaration builds steadily toward the chorus, making it perfect for a group double dutch at a school sports day.
Calling out to each other over the pleasant beat will deepen the team’s unity.
It’s a song highly recommended for students uniting their hearts with their friends as they strive toward a shared goal.
R.Y.U.S.E.I.NEW!Sandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu

The dance and vocal group Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE captivates fans with their translucent vocals and stunning performances.
Known as one of their signature tracks, this single was released in June 2014.
It features a driving four-on-the-floor beat and uplifting synths that instantly elevate your mood.
The “Running Man” choreography during the instrumental break also became a hot topic, and the song won the 56th Japan Record Award that same year.
With lyrics depicting the bonds between friends and an upbeat tune, it’s the perfect BGM for synchronized group jump rope!
Three-legged race (11–20)
In a three-legged race, not only running speed but also syncing with your partner is the key to victory.
The skilled runners dash so fast you can’t help but think, “Are their legs really tied together?” For background music that suits a three-legged race, tracks with a sense of speed are perfect.
We’ve selected a variety of songs—from J-pop and anime themes to classical—so please use this as a reference.
Reference article: Sports Day/Athletic Festival: In Perfect Sync! Songs That Hype Up the Three-Legged Race
Three-legged race (1–10)
Full driveNEW!KANA-BOON

It grabs you right from the opening guitar riff! It’s one of KANA-BOON’s signature songs, released in May 2014 as their third major-label single.
The tempo is tight from the start, and that headlong drive never lets up.
Centered on a four-on-the-floor rhythm, this rock tune’s sound alone gets you pumped.
As you listen, you’ll feel like breaking into a run.
With great flow and uplifting, forward-looking lyrics, it’s a perfect fit for high-energy events like school sports days and athletic festivals.
Also included on the album “TIME,” this track makes for an awesome hype BGM when you’re syncing up and sprinting together in events like three-legged races!
My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoNEW!RADWIMPS

Zen Zen Zense, which became a massive hit as the theme song for the film Your Name.
Included on the album Your Name released in August 2016, it’s a track that, together with the movie that sparked a social phenomenon, brought RADWIMPS wide recognition.
The song features a sense of speed with an arrangement that launches straight into top gear from the intro, and it carries a passionate message about a powerful bond that transcends time and space.
It’s a perfect background track for moving in sync like a three-legged race, matching its rhythmic tempo.
A refreshing rock tune that gives a push to students giving their all in competition.
one secondNEW!SixTONES

This single by SixTONES, released in 2026, was chosen as an athlete support song for Nippon TV’s coverage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
It’s a powerful number that combines their signature hard-edged, propulsive sound with rich, layered vocals.
The lyrics, echoing the voices of the athletes, overlap with their determination as they take on their events, giving listeners a strong push forward.
With its up-tempo, hype-raising feel, it’s perfect as BGM for a three-legged race where two people move in sync.
It unites the hearts of two runners aiming for the same goal and fills the field with heat and excitement.
It’s a fiery anthem of encouragement recommended for everyone pressing onward in the face of challenges.
Standing on stageNEW!YOASOBI

YOASOBI’s “On the Stage” delicately portrays the inner world of those who step onto a grand stage.
Released digitally in July 2024, the track was chosen as NHK’s sports theme, including coverage of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Set to a driving guitar rock sound, it sings of the will—and the anxiety—of chasing one’s future self, giving it a universal appeal that goes beyond a simple cheer song.
Ikura’s powerful vocals and Ayase’s raw, band-oriented arrangement vividly capture the tension and exhilaration of competition.
It’s a perfect anthem to fuel passionate spirits in situations that require moving forward in sync—like three-legged races at school sports days and athletic festivals.
Three-legged raceNEW!misono

Sung by artist misono, who has been active in various fields since her solo debut, this track is an up-tempo rock number perfect as BGM for a three-legged race.
Released as a single in June 2008, it was used as the theme song for the Wii title Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World and as an ending theme for a variety show.
Characterized by a driving, fast-paced band sound, it has a powerful energy that feels like it’ll push you forward even when nerves threaten to trip you up.
The lyrics were written by misono herself, delivering a strong message about the misunderstandings that arise from relationships that are too close, and the importance of the other person.
Even the tricky synchronization of a three-legged race should become easier and lighter if you match your pace to this song.
Highly recommended when you want to crank the excitement to its peak.



