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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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)

LOVE 2000NEW!tsuru and kame

Tsuru and Kame “LOVE 2000” Official Music Video

LOVE 2000NEW!tsuru and kame

This is the single released in January 2026 as the theme song for the film “Pure Love, Bring It On!” It’s performed by Tsuru and Kame, a limited-time unit featuring Jutaro Yamanaka from M!LK and Aloha Takamatsu from Bullet Train.

Boldly reimagined with a pop sensibility, this work is an arranged cover of a classic that was a massive hit around 2000.

The straightforward melody and sense of speed of the original are infused with the tactile feel of contemporary dance-pop, making the powerful beat stand out.

Set against a story about the leaders of rival high schools, the sound brims with momentum and a provocative euphoria—perfect for a tug-of-war where fighting spirit blazes.

It will provide a positive driving force in moments when you sync with your teammates and give it your all.

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lilacNEW!Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Lilac” Official Music Video

lilacNEW!Mrs. GREEN APPLE

If you want to hype up a tug-of-war at a sports day with a sound full of exhilarating drive, this track by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE is perfect! Released as a digital-only single in April 2024, it’s an uptempo tune chosen as the opening theme for the anime “Oblivion Battery.” It boasts immense popularity, with total streams surpassing 300 million.

The theme captures the bittersweetness and conflicts of youth, conveying the protagonist’s strong will to accept their imperfect self and move forward into the future—sure to set listeners’ hearts ablaze.

Its technical guitar riffs, packed with the impulses of student days, will ignite your fighting spirit, so be sure to pick it as BGM for an intense event!

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New Treasure IslandNEW!Sakanakushon

Sakanaction / New Treasure Island -Music Video-

New Treasure IslandNEW!Sakanakushon

This is an alternative rock track produced as the theme song for the film Bakuman, which portrays the youth of high school manga artists.

Released by Sakanaction in September 2015 as their 11th single, it captivates with retro synthesizer tones reminiscent of the 1980s and an up-tempo melody that makes you want to move.

Its powerful message about venturing into the unknown and the meticulous attitude toward creation is a perfect match for a tug-of-war scene where a team unites and gives its all.

The bright, high-velocity sound stokes fighting spirit and will make the competition even more exhilarating.

As BGM for a vigorous tug-of-war, why not play it at your sports day?

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InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Inferno

InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s “Inferno,” which is popular among elementary and middle school students, is also the theme song for the anime Fire Force.

The lyrics have a grand, immersive worldview that really draws you in.

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE often has a fresh, breezy image, but this track has a slightly darker tone and a driving pace, making it a great BGM choice for tug-of-war.

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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!

Cavalry Battle (1–10)

Shinsengumi! Main ThemeTakayuki Hattori

[NHK Taiga Drama] (2004) Shinsengumi!, Takayuki Hattori, Junichi Hirokami, NHK Symphony Orchestra, John Ken Nuzzo (Tenor)

Shinsengumi! Main Theme by Takayuki Hattori

This piece is characterized by a grand, powerful melody.

It superbly captures the spirit of the Shinsengumi, who lived through the turmoil at the end of the Edo period.

Its weighty sound, led by brass and strings, conveys the tension and pride of samurai marching into battle.

Used as the main theme for NHK’s 2004 Taiga drama “Shinsengumi!”, it left a lasting impression on many viewers.

It’s a track that fully showcases Takayuki Hattori’s exceptional compositional prowess and is perfect as BGM for cavalry battles.

Listening to its valiant atmosphere will make anyone feel like a member of the Shinsengumi.

If used as BGM for cavalry battles, it’s sure to excite both participants and spectators alike!

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Zankyo SankaAimer

Aimer「Zankyosanka」MUSIC VIDEO（Demon Slayer:Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc Theme Song）

Zankyo SankaAimer

Released in 2022 and used as the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc, Aimer’s “Zankyo Sanka” is an upbeat track featuring brilliant brass band tones.

The dynamic sound pairs exquisitely with Aimer’s powerful yet delicate husky voice.

Its blazing, high-impact band sound perfectly matches the fervor of a cavalry battle.

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single-minded; wholehearted; devoted; earnestKing Gnu

King Gnu – Ichizu

single-minded; wholehearted; devoted; earnestKing Gnu

“Ichizu” cranks up the voltage for the cavalry battle, where fierce clashes send the crowd’s energy soaring.

Released by King Gnu in 2021, the song was chosen as the theme for the film Jujutsu Kaisen 0.

It features a driving guitar riff and a fiery band groove.

Among their tracks, it has a relatively simple instrumental setup, making it a perfect fit for high-intensity sports day events.

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