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!

Anison (1–10)

flash[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Flash (MV) Theme Song of Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash

flash[Alexandros]

[Alexandros]’s song captivates listeners with a rock sound brimming with momentum that soars from the very first line and a grand, expansive scale.

The lyrics, interweaving opposing emotions—anxieties and hopes about growing up, loneliness and bonds, past and future—resonate deeply in the heart.

Released in May 2021 as their 19th single, it was chosen as the theme song for the film Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway.

It’s a perfect track not only for dances and events like school sports festivals, but also for moments when you want to elevate each other with your teammates or need the courage to face a new challenge.

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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

A powerful anthem of will and resolve from the film ONE PIECE FILM RED.

Released by Ado in June 2022, the song is notable for lyrics brimming with self-affirmation that wells up from deep within and heartfelt care for one’s companions.

The energetic, exhilarating rock sound crafted by Motoki Omori of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE and Ado’s distinctive vocals truly shine.

The song expresses the feelings of the film’s character Uta, depicting the process of acknowledging one’s own weaknesses and anxieties while overcoming them to grow stronger.

It’s a perfect track for rallying yourself at a sports day or athletic festival, or when you want to strive together with your teammates.

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Miracle of BondsMAN WITH A MISSION×milet

MAN WITH A MISSION × milet “Kizuna no Kiseki” Music Video

Miracle of BondsMAN WITH A MISSION×milet

A powerful rock sound that pierces the dark night and milet’s clear, transparent vocals make this collaboration with MAN WITH A MISSION unforgettable.

It unfolds a dramatic world of courage in the face of adversity and the bonds shared with cherished companions.

Released in May 2023, it drew attention as the opening theme for the TV anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc.

Portraying friends joining forces and taking steady steps toward their dreams, this track is sure to stir the heart as march music for sports festivals and field days, or as uplifting BGM for performances.

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Curtain callYuuri

Curtain Call by Yuuri: My Hero Academia Special Music Video / My Hero Academia Season 7 Cour 2 Opening Theme Anime MV

Curtain callYuuri

This is a song by Yuuri featuring an exhilarating, up-tempo rock melody and lyrics filled with hope as two people strive to understand each other.

It powerfully and directly sings of the protagonist’s strong resolve to keep pursuing the path they believe in, while showing empathy toward those they stand opposed to.

A rousing cheer song that gives you a push to chase dreams together with teammates at sports days and athletic festivals, it was released in July 2024 and chosen as the opening theme for Season 7, Cour 2 of the popular anime My Hero Academia.

It’s a track we especially recommend to everyone competing with friends, helping one another, and giving their all toward their goals.

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Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya

Where Our Blue Is / Tatsuya Kitani

Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya

Tatsuya Kitani’s song “Ao no Sumika” captivates with a beautiful, heart‑stirring melody that feels like a snapshot of a fleeting moment in youth.

Released in July 2023, it drew attention as the opening theme for the second season of the anime Jujutsu Kaisen.

The lyrics, which portray lost time and feelings that never reached their destination, resonate deeply with listeners.

Its sense of speed and drive makes it perfect for school sports days and athletic festivals.

It’s a track I especially recommend to those who are right in the midst of their youth.

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