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!

Upbeat songs (1–10)

ultramarineYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Gunjou” Official Music Video

ultramarineYOASOBI

It’s a powerful song that gives you the courage to move forward toward your dreams and goals.

Produced by YOASOBI in September 2020, it was featured as the commercial song for Bourbon’s Alfort Mini Chocolate.

In 2021, it was selected as the theme song for Nippon TV’s high school dance club support project, Dance ONE Project ’21, and it was also performed at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in December of the same year.

Depicting a protagonist who, despite their struggles, finds their own path, this piece is a perfect fit for group gymnastics and dance, where mutual trust comes together to create something as one.

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Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it’s embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Is Youth Embarrassing?' Official Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Hazukashiika Seishun wa

Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it's embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai

An uplifting youth anthem featuring a dynamic melody and a driving, fast-paced sound.

Released by Ryokuoushoku Shakai in July 2024 as the theme song for an ABEMA dating show, it captures the anxieties and aspirations of adolescence and the brilliance of giving your all, expressed through powerful vocals and a grand arrangement with a 40-piece orchestra.

The track is also included on the album “Channel U,” and since its first live performance at Sukima Fes, it has been featured on numerous music programs.

It’s perfect for events like sports days and athletic festivals where you go all out with your friends.

A song that gently supports students living their “only-now” moments to the fullest.

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Mela!Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Mela!' Music Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Mela!

Mela!Ryokushokushakai

It’s a coming-of-age anthem filled with a burning desire to become a hero.

Born from the pure wish to help the precious friends right in front of you, the song vividly portrays the protagonist’s emotions as they overcome doubt and inner conflict to take a step forward.

Included on the June 2020 album “SINGALONG,” this track became Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s signature song.

It’s perfect for sports days and athletic festivals, giving you the courage to carve out your own story with the brightest memories in your heart.

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StaRtMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – StaRt

StaRtMrs. GREEN APPLE

This track is packed with a catchy melody and an uplifting message.

The refreshing pop-rock sound and dynamic, well-defined rhythm feel great, and it’s sure to encourage you every time you listen! Even when things don’t go well, it carries a powerful cheer: it’s okay to go back to basics and make a fresh start.

Featured on Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s major-label debut mini-album “Variety,” the song was also used in commercials for Kao Merit and as the theme for Fuji TV’s “Cho Hamaru! Bakusho Chara Parade.” It’s a perfect choice for moments when new challenges begin, such as opening ceremonies or athlete entrances at school sports days.

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Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Blue and Summer

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Let’s hype up the venue with an emotional rock number! This track, chosen as the theme song for the film “Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi” (Blue Summer: The 30 Days I Fell in Love with You), is by the rock band Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, known for their energetic sound, and was released in 2018 as their seventh single.

School sports days are often associated with the cooler autumn season, but no matter how low the temperature drops, our hearts still burn with passion! It’s a fiery classic that’s perfect for events like these!

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