[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 fit sprint races: tracks that make kids want to run [Classics & J‑Pop] (41–50)
superstarKetsumeishi
This song celebrates recognizing the potential and talent hidden within yourself and letting them shine.
Its empowering message—that everyone has a unique brilliance—blends beautifully with the pop sound.
Ketsumeishi’s positive lyrics and catchy melody carry a warm, gentle push for listeners.
Released in November 2020, it was chosen as the theme song for the TV Asahi anime Crayon Shin-chan.
The music video, filmed in India, also captures the song’s bright and uplifting worldview.
It’s a perfect fit as a cheer song for school events like sports festivals, and for anyone seeking encouragement to discover their true self.
[Sports Day] Songs that match footraces. Tunes that make kids want to run [Classics & J-POP] (51–60)
Start to shine and run forwardSambomasutā
An exhilarating up-tempo tune with a melody full of speed and Sambomaster’s passionate message that makes your heart leap! Released as a single in August 2018, it was also chosen as the theme song for the drama “Cheer☆Dan.” It’s an incredibly high-energy cheer song that’s almost too perfect for sports days.
It pairs especially well with running events where you sprint at full speed.
Brimming with energy and spirit, it’s sure to hype up both sprint races and exit scenes.
InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE
This song, used as the opening theme for the anime Fire Force, conveys a sense of speed from the very first drum beats and a feeling that something is about to begin.
In events where momentum is crucial—like cavalry battles—it will surely boost athletes’ motivation with a “Let’s go!” spirit.
In fact, the song encapsulates both transience and passion, asking what meaning we find in a life that will one day end and how we live with that awareness.
It’s an ideal track for spending your school days—a youth that will inevitably come to an end—with burning intensity.
life-formHoshino Gen
An upbeat track with a life-affirming melody and Gen Hoshino’s high-tone vocals that set your heart dancing! Released in August 2023 and chosen as the theme song for the World Athletics Championships, this is an energetic cheer song through and through.
Its irresistibly driving groove seems like a perfect fit for all-out sprints and relays.
It’s sure to amp up every scene at a school sports day.
With this song, kids will surely feel the joy of running.
Theme from Mission: Impossible
When you say “a footrace,” it sounds kind of cute, but for the runners themselves it’s a serious contest.
How about this piece to heighten that tension? Thanks to the hit film Mission: Impossible, this tune became known around the world.
You know how you’re watching TV and suddenly this music starts playing? That’s how ingrained it is in Japan, making it perfect for a school sports day.
Plus, there are many different arranged versions out there, so it’s worth looking for one you like.
GO!!!FLOW
This track stands out with its exhilarating, high-energy sound.
Its positive message and powerful melody inspire courage in listeners.
Released in 2004, it became a major hit as the opening theme for the anime Naruto.
As one of FLOW’s signature songs, it earned widespread support both in Japan and abroad.
It’s also perfect as background music for a school sports day race! It’s sure to fire up children’s hearts and make them want to run at full speed.
A song everyone can get excited about, from kids to adults.
No.1DISH//
A powerful anthem that sings of the strength to keep moving forward as your true self.
Set to a driving blend of piano and guitar rock, DISH//’s passionate vocals resonate deeply in the heart.
Many will find courage in its message: don’t fear challenges—forge ahead on your own path, not someone else’s.
Released in May 2021 as their 13th single, the song was chosen as the opening theme for the first cour of Season 5 of the Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV anime My Hero Academia.
It’s a track that mirrors the journeys of young people pursuing their dreams—perfect for when you need the courage to take that first step forward.