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!
Cheering Songs (1–10)
TouchNEW!Inaba Hiroshi
A track that further amps up the excitement of any sports day showdown.
Known as the vocalist of B’z, Koshi Inaba released this piece in March 2026.
It’s a cover of the classic hit sung by Yoshimi Iwasaki in 1985, which became a smash as an anime theme song.
Chosen as a cheer song for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, it perfectly conveys the rising exhilaration before a big game.
The familiar melody intertwines with a sharp, rock-edged vocal, stirring everyone’s emotions.
Because people of all ages can sing along, it’s recommended when you want to unite the entire venue as an anthem cheering on kids giving their all.
peace signNEW!Yonezu Kenshi
The gradually building intro is so cool! It’s a song by hit-making singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu, released as a single in June 2017.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime My Hero Academia and became a hot topic.
With a fast-paced guitar rock sound, the arrangement ramps up in intensity toward the chorus, and just listening to it fills you with motivation.
It carries a powerful message about facing your own weaknesses while still moving forward, making it perfect as BGM for a school sports day relay or a cheer battle.
It’s a track you can get hyped up with together with the kids!
HontoNEW!sumika
sumika is a rock band that energizes people with a bright, pop-infused sound.
This song has been chosen as the theme for the film Doraemon: Nobita and the Undersea Devil’s Castle (New), set for release in February 2026.
It carries a warm message that encourages an adventure to seek one’s own “truth,” embracing emotions and not fearing failure.
It features a universal, easy-to-hum melody and a band sound with a grand sense of scale.
Brimming with positive power, this track is perfect as BGM to cheer on teammates at a sports day, for kids and adults alike.
idolNEW!YOASOBI
A song by YOASOBI selected as the opening theme for the anime “Oshi no Ko,” which became a worldwide hit.
Released digitally in April 2023, it brilliantly portrays the glittering public face of an idol and the loneliness and inner conflict hidden behind it.
The fast-paced melody, blending hip-hop and pop, instantly boosts the listener’s excitement.
Its universally recognizable, catchy chorus and rhythmic progression make it perfect as a pep song to fire up a school sports day.
As a dance number or entrance tune, it will send children’s motivation soaring.
BRAVENEW!arashi
It’s a compelling number featuring a powerful, stadium-filling chorus and a gritty rock sound.
The themes center on solidarity with teammates and the will to press forward, and the rap part penned by Sho Sakurai further heightens the tension and exhilaration of sports.
Released in September 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of Arashi, the single was used as the image song for Nippon TV’s “Rugby 2019.” It continued to be used during broadcasts of the same tournament in 2023.
Brimming with overwhelming power and a grand sense of scale, it’s perfect as a fight song to fire up heated events like cavalry battles and tug-of-war at school sports days.
Why not raise your voices together with your friends and send your cheers?
together; along with; bothWANIMA
WANIMA’s “Tomoni” is an up-tempo, energetic song that’s a perfect fit for school sports festivals.
Formed in 2010, WANIMA is a three-piece punk rock band from Kumamoto that enjoys immense popularity, especially among younger listeners.
Released in 2016, “Tomoni” is an unabashedly positive anthem of encouragement, filled with a powerful drive to keep moving upward and forward.
Its propulsive feel born from a powerful eight-beat rhythm makes it ideal for amping up the excitement at a sports day!
Relay race (11–20)
Relays and sprints are the highlights of any sports day. To amp up the excitement, nothing beats fast-paced, exhilarating music. We’ll start by introducing classic, go-to tracks—like “Csikos Post”—that make you want to start running the moment you hear them! These timeless classical pieces are great, but there are also energetic, fast-paced J-pop songs that fit relays and sprints perfectly. 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)
TouchNEW!Inaba Hiroshi
An anime song everyone knows has been revived, wrapped in the excitement of global sports.
Covered by Hiroshi Inaba—who is also active as a solo artist and released the acclaimed album “Tada Mono” in June 2024—this track is a classic originally released in March 1985 as the theme song for the anime Touch.
Inaba’s cover version was selected in March 2026 as the tournament support song for the World Baseball Classic.
The fusion of his edgy vocals with an accessible melody overflows with powerful energy aimed at victory, making it a perfect BGM for a heated relay.
Let’s dash across the field with this timeless cheer song loved across generations!