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 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.
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: tracks that make kids want to run [Classics & J‑Pop] (41–50)

ultramarineYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Gunjou” Official Music Video

ultramarineYOASOBI

A signature work by YOASOBI that vividly expresses young people’s passion and pursuit of dreams through striking lyrics.

Released in September 2020, the song gained broad recognition after being featured in Bourbon’s “Alfort Mini Chocolate” commercial.

In 2021, it was also selected as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Dance ONE Project ’21,” adding flair to high school students’ dance performances.

Evoking the image of blue light, the piece impressively portrays the challenges of self-expression and creativity, making it perfect for school sports-day entrance marches and dance performances.

It’s a song that lets everyone share in the unique sense of unity of a sports festival and the courage to take the first step toward their dreams.

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VertigoMAN WITH A MISSION

MAN WITH A MISSION「Vertigo」

VertigoMAN WITH A MISSION

This track is striking for its tense, adrenaline-charged sound and English lyrics that portray a dizzying sense of chaos.

Released by MAN WITH A MISSION in March 2025, the song sounds an alarm about a modern society where the line between right and wrong has grown blurred.

Written and composed by member Jean-Ken Johnny, it powerfully depicts people being swept up by information and desire.

It was also selected as a promotional song for the near-futuristic sci-fi mecha game “Mecha BREAK.” Blending a strong message with an energetic sound, this piece is recommended for anyone looking to fire up their spirit at school sports days or athletic festivals.

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POKÉDANCEnanahira

[Official] “POKÉDANCE” Dance Practice by ENHYPEN — featuring partner Pokémon from past generations dancing

POKÉDANCEnanahira

This piece is a fun dance tune set to charming electronic sounds and a light, buoyant rhythm, celebrating the joy of friendship and new encounters.

Its English lyrics convey the message of “having fun together with friends,” wrapping listeners in a warm atmosphere that brings smiles to everyone.

Released in February 2024, the song beautifully matches Nanahira’s clear, soaring vocals with a cute melody, and the animated music video featuring partner Pokémon dancing drew plenty of attention.

A dance practice version by ENHYPEN was released simultaneously, capturing the hearts of Pokémon fans.

With its rhythmic, upbeat feel, it’s perfect for group performances like school sports festivals.

Pairing it with balloon choreography can make the presentation even more dazzling.

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Make you happyNiziU

NiziU 『Make you happy』 M/V

Make you happyNiziU

NiziU’s debut song features an exhilarating sound and lyrics that focus on smiles.

It expresses the desire to “make you smile” with a pop melody and catchy phrases.

Released in June 2020, it became a smash hit in no time, sparking a social phenomenon with dance videos going viral on TikTok.

If you play it during a school sports day race, it might ease the children’s nerves and help them fully enjoy the event.

The jump-rope dance in the chorus could even make the cheering parents want to join in!

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1, 2, 3After the Rain

[Pokémon OP] 1・2・3 / After the Rain (Soraru × Mafumafu)

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.

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Your AdventureOkazaki Taiiku

[Okazaki Taiiku] I tried playing Pokémon Sun & Moon OP “Your Adventure” [Major Steven]

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.

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single-minded; wholehearted; devoted; earnestKing Gnu

King Gnu – Ichizu

single-minded; wholehearted; devoted; earnestKing Gnu

It’s Ichizu that really amps up the footrace—one of the main events at any sports day.

Released in 2021 by the rock band King Gnu, known for hits like Hakujitsu, the song was chosen as the theme for the film Jujutsu Kaisen 0.

With its driving guitar riff and fiery band groove, it delivers a real sense of speed.

Among their tracks, its relatively simple instrumentation makes it perfect as background music for a race.

Let this up-tempo rock number get both the runners and the audience pumped!

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