[Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
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!
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[Sports Day] Songs that go well with footraces. Songs that make kids want to run [Classics & J-POP] (21–30)
Your AdventureOkazaki Taiiku
“Kimi no Bouken,” the cheer song by Okazaki Taiiku, is the opening theme for Pokémon Sun & Moon.
It’s a coming-of-age song beloved by a wide range of listeners, from hardcore music fans to casual anime and game fans.
The track lifts your spirits and makes you want to set off on an adventure, so it’s especially perfect as background music for a school sports day race! The lyrics about friends are also heartwarming.
Happinessarashi
One of Arashi’s popular songs, “Happiness,” is also a great choice for a race BGM! It’s a well-known track that everyone recognizes, and its bright melody and uplifting lyrics can motivate you when you’re about to lose heart.
The chorus in particular is sure to boost runners’ morale.
If you’re curating a playlist of “songs everyone knows” for BGM, this is definitely one to include!
peace signYonezu Kenshi
It’s a song by Kenshi Yonezu—well known from the anime My Hero Academia and arguably the most famous singer in Japan today.
With its fast tempo and upbeat lyrics, I think it really amps up events where winning and losing are involved, like footraces.
It seems better suited for sports festivals from junior high school and up rather than for nursery or elementary school field days.
A Little Love SongAmatsuki
When it comes to “Chiisana Koi no Uta,” it’s a classic hit in the Japanese rock scene.
However, this time I’d like to introduce not the original by MONGOL800, but the cover version by Amatsuki, a singer especially popular among younger generations.
Combining Amatsuki’s vocals—beloved by many elementary, middle, and high school students—with the original song’s sense of speed and emotional punch, this cover is superbly done.
I think it would be perfect as BGM for a running race, too.
1, 2, 3After the Rain
The perfect song to pump up the kids for their footrace event is “1, 2, 3.” It was released in 2019 by After the Rain, a musical duo formed by the vocalists Soraru and Mafumafu.
Since it’s used as the opening theme for the anime Pokémon, many children are likely familiar with it.
Its colorful synths ring out over a driving, fast-paced tempo.
Their rhythmic, lighthearted flow is irresistibly cute.
It’s an upbeat tune that fits a child’s big moment on the track perfectly.
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
A hugely popular youth anthem, Aoi to Natsu (Blue and Summer).
Released by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE in 2018, it was written 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).
This refreshing, fast-paced rock number motivates listeners and makes many feel ready to give it their all.
Play it during a relay race at a school sports day and both the runners and the cheering crowd are sure to get fired up! If you’re looking to use J-pop as background music for a sports day, this is a must.
Zankyo SankaAimer
A fast-paced, powerful song is essential for sprint events, right? Aimer, known for her beautiful yet ephemeral husky voice, released “Zankyo Sanka” in 2022—an upbeat tune that’s perfect for school sports days.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc.
The dazzling brass band arrangement resounds dynamically.
Since the song builds excitement from the verse into the chorus, it’s an ideal match for high-energy races! Try playing this family-friendly anime song for everyone to enjoy.