Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

[Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]

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.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

The footrace event, the climax of any sports day! It gets everyone fired up—both the kids running and the adults watching.

And to make the race even more exciting, you can’t go without the right BGM.

Here, we’ve put together a selection of recommended songs for footrace events.

From timeless classics you’ve surely heard before to the latest buzzworthy J-pop hits, we’ve curated tracks that people of all generations can enjoy.

Every song is full of sprinting energy and is sure to double the excitement of the competition! Use this as a guide to help bring your sports day to life!

[Sports Day] Songs that fit sprint races. Tunes that make kids want to run [Classics & J-POP] (61–70)

Indigo squaredYorushika

Yorushika – Blue Squared (Music Video)

Indigo squaredYorushika

Yorushika’s “Ai Nijou” is perfect for a sports day.

The rampaging guitar sound in the intro makes you so restless you can’t sit still.

The drums and chugging guitar in the first verse throb like a racing heartbeat, giving you the kind of excitement that makes you want to take off running.

It’s a comfortable number with a pleasing contrast between the transparent vocals and the hard-edged sound.

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giftRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Gift [Official Music Video]

giftRADWIMPS

Written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Anpan,” this track is pop music that poses universal questions under the theme of a journey to find the meaning of life.

With a warm, embracing melody and poetic lyrics that resonate, it depicts the small joys of everyday life and the courage to take on challenges.

Yojiro Noda and the other members of RADWIMPS completed the piece over several months in preparation for “Anpan,” which is scheduled to air from April 2025.

Brimming with vitality, the song’s message makes it perfect for events like school sports days and athletic meets—let children and adults alike enjoy a sense of unity with this track!

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Freak It! ft. Tokyo Ska Paradise OrchestraMAN WITH A MISSION

MAN WITH A MISSION – Freak It! ft. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Freak It! ft. Tokyo Ska Paradise OrchestraMAN WITH A MISSION

It’s a lively track that blends a high-velocity rock sound with ska elements.

Created through a collaboration between MAN WITH A MISSION and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra in February 2018, the song expresses a burning fighting spirit and a will to charge into the future.

Its party-ready, fiery sound and powerful message encouraging free, unrestrained ideas and actions make a strong impression.

Chosen as the official theme song for Super Rugby’s Sunwolves and included on the album “Chasing the Horizon,” this piece has captivated many as a go-to track to energize sports scenes, parties, and of course, school sports day relays.

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Theme of the Beard

Theme of the Beard

Theme of the Beard

This song might not be very familiar to the younger generation! It’s the theme song for the “Hige Dance,” which was performed on the hugely popular TV show ‘It’s 8 O’Clock! Everybody Gather Round!’ It features a snappy rhythm and a distinctive bassline.

It has a fun, lively vibe, so rather than intense competitions like relays, it’s perfect as background music for more easygoing events like a borrowing race.

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Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Tomorrow Too”

Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO

When it comes to sports day background music, you hear lots of popular songs of the moment regardless of the event, right? In that sense, SHISHAMO—who are beloved across generations—is a must, don’t you think? This song has their signature style: a bright, poppy sound, uplifting lyrics, and a driving sense of speed that makes it perfect for a footrace BGM.

Highly recommended.

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The Nutcracker – TrepakPyotr Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker – Trepak (Piano Sheet Music)

The Nutcracker – TrepakPyotr Tchaikovsky

“The Nutcracker – Trepak” is one of the ballet pieces composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Trepak is also known as the Russian Dance and represents the dance of the barley sugar fairy.

If this piece is meant to depict the dance, you can imagine some pretty vigorous movement! With its strong sense of speed, it’s perfect for scenes like dashes or relays.

If you’re looking for classical background music, how about this piece?

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Soldier, run.B’z

B'z / Soldier, Run

Soldier, run.B'z

This song became very famous alongside the Japan national rugby team’s rise.

It’s the song used in the Lipovitan D commercials.

Those ads were played frequently during breaks in the Japan rugby team’s matches.

Since it’s a sports-themed song, I think it fits well for school sports days, too.

Also, the lyrics aren’t limited to rugby-specific content.

B’z are an artist widely recognized across different age groups, and their vocals are distinctive.

The guitar performance is cool as well, making it a perfect song to hype up a crowd.

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