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 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.
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!

Tug of War (1–10)

BOW AND ARROWYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – BOW AND ARROW

BOW AND ARROWYonezu Kenshi

A powerful track crafted by Kenshi Yonezu as the opening theme for the TV anime “Medalist.” Through the imagery of bow and arrow, it symbolically portrays challenge and growth in sports, as well as the strong bond between coach and student.

Released as a digital single on January 27, 2025, it premiered on the opening day of the nationwide tour “Kenshi Yonezu 2025 TOUR / JUNK,” where it garnered a huge response.

Listening to it before a tug-of-war will sharpen your focus and help you achieve the best results together with your teammates.

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I am the strongest.Ado

[Ado] I’m the Strongest (Uta from ONE PIECE FILM RED)

I am the strongest.Ado

With its powerful vocals and dynamic sound, this song resonates like a call to awaken your fighting spirit.

It’s infused with a passionate resolve to believe in your own strength and face any hardship head-on.

Composed by Motoki Omori of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, it serves as an in-film song for the feature-length anime ONE PIECE FILM RED, released in June 2022, showcasing Ado’s overwhelming vocal prowess to the fullest.

Although it is a character song, it carries a universal message, and in April 2024 it won the Bronze Medal at the NexTone Award.

It’s a highly recommended track for moments when you want to fire yourself up before a decisive challenge or rally your courage.

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together; along with; bothWANIMA

WANIMA – Together (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

together; along with; bothWANIMA

This song features a powerful, passionate vocal performance and a striking rock sound.

Its uplifting message encourages pushing forward through setbacks and anxiety, and the melody that sings of friendship and gratitude resonates deeply.

Released in August 2016, it was featured in a NIVEA Kao “8×4” commercial, capturing many hearts with its energetic sound and meaningful lyrics.

During production, the Kumamoto earthquakes occurred, and that experience imbued the song with reflections on the preciousness of life and love for one’s hometown, making it a profound piece.

This track is perfect not only for tug-of-war at school sports festivals, but also for moments when you want to work hard with someone, take on challenges as a team, or find the courage to move forward.

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PlazmaYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Plazma

PlazmaYonezu Kenshi

A January 2025 single by Kenshi Yonezu distinguished by its powerful beats and grand sound.

Written as the theme song for the feature film Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-, the piece stands out with energetic, defiant expression.

It portrays profound themes—hope for the future, trust in one’s inner strength, and the bonds forged amid battle—through a unique worldview.

The contrast between fierce electronic beats and delicate melodies brilliantly conveys both fighting spirit and the importance of teamwork.

As music for the tug-of-war, a sport where strength and hearts unite, it’s sure to ignite the fighting spirit of children.

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OrangeSPYAIR

SPYAIR “Orange” Music Video (Theme Song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie)

OrangeSPYAIR

A refreshing yet powerful track that somehow evokes a touch of poignancy.

Released in February 2024, this SPYAIR song was chosen as the theme for the film Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle.

It’s a perfect fit for tug-of-war events at school sports days and athletic festivals.

With the power to ignite the athletes’ fighting spirit and lift the crowd’s excitement, it’s sure to get everyone united and fired up!

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breakthroughSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Toppakō” MV (TV anime Haikyu!! TO THE TOP, 2nd cour opening theme)

breakthroughSUPER BEAVER

This song expresses the power of taking on challenges with commanding vocals and a fiery band sound.

The lyrics, which call for facing things head-on and living life to the fullest, pierce the listener’s heart.

Released in October 2020, it was used as the opening theme for the second cour of the anime Haikyu!! TO THE TOP.

With its powerful sound and message-driven lyrics, it’s sure to ignite the fighting spirit of athletes taking on a tug-of-war.

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Go for it!!Urufuruzu

Ulfuls – Guts da ze!!

Go for it!!Urufuruzu

Guts daze!!, the 1995 smash hit by the Osaka-born rock band Ulfuls that catapulted them to nationwide fame.

With its disco-flavored, high-energy vibe, it’s guaranteed to lift anyone’s spirits! In the music video, Tortoise Matsumoto’s feudal lord costume is comical, and it’s said they actually borrowed the outfit worn by Ken Shimura in his “Baka Tono-sama” skit.

It’s a timeless track that still sounds fresh today, and it’d be a blast if it played during a parent-child tug-of-war event.

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Cavalry Battle (11–20)

Kiba-sen is a head-to-head team competition that gets especially heated among all the field day events.

And of course, you can’t do without BGM to fire up the competitors’ fighting spirit.

For kiba-sen, in addition to fast-paced tracks, theme songs from historical dramas are often used because of the “horseback” connection.

Let’s take a look at some songs that hype up the matches! Reference article: [Blazing] Carefully selected tracks perfect as BGM for cavalry battles at sports festivals!