The Spring and Summer Koshien tournaments sweep countless people up in a whirl of emotion! Many of you have probably been moved to tears by the passionate battles fought by the high school players.
All the more so when your local high school keeps advancing.
One hallmark of Koshien is the entrance march.
At the Spring Invitational, popular recent Japanese songs are used, while at the Summer Koshien, Yamada Kosaku’s “Tournament Marching Song” is played.
In this article, we’ve collected the marching pieces through the years, focusing on the songs chosen for the Spring Invitational.
You might just find that one piece you’ve been wanting to hear again!
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[Koshien] That hit song too!? A comprehensive look at the historic spring and summer marching songs (1–10)
National High School Baseball Championship Tournament MarchYamada Kōsaku
A solemn yet rousing melody that graces the opening ceremony of the Summer Koshien! Crafted by a titan of Japanese music, Kosaku Yamada, this piece seems to turn the players’ dreams and sweat into sound.
Composed in August 1935 for the National Secondary School Baseball Championship in summer, this march has since stood as a symbol of the tournament, powerfully ushering the players as they enter.
Words like “glory” and “challenge” suit this work perfectly—it stirs the hearts of listeners and will undoubtedly continue to accompany unforgettable moments etched into baseball history.
hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake
This is a song by Omoinotake that expresses lingering feelings for a former lover.
Released in 2024, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Eye Love You,” and in 2025 it was also selected as the entrance march for the Spring High School Baseball Tournament.
While the lyrics convey a sense of heartache, the fresh melody and vocals are striking.
Its uplifting feel makes it a charming listen that brightens your mood, so it seems perfect for energizing the start of the tournament.
The One and Only Flower in the WorldSMAP
A song by SMAP with a melody that warmly embraces many hearts and lyrics that gently give listeners a push.
Originally included on the July 2002 album “SMAP 015/Drink! Smap!” and later reworked as a single in March 2003, the track also became well known as the theme song for the drama “Boku no Ikiru Michi,” starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi.
In the spring of 2004, it colored Koshien as the march for the Spring Senbatsu High School Baseball Tournament, and its emotional impact remains undimmed.
It’s a timeless classic that brings courage and hope—perfect for a festival of sports.
I love youback number
A love song by back number written for the 2022 NHK morning drama series.
The lyrics, which gently confide anxieties to a cat while expressing heartfelt feelings for a loved one, really sink in, don’t they? That painfully pure emotion and the resolve to keep moving forward with a loved one’s smile in your heart may resonate with young people in their school years.
Just imagining Koshien high school baseball players marching proudly with this gentle yet powerful cheer song engraved in their hearts is enough to move you, isn’t it?
loveHoshino Gen
A national hit song by Gen Hoshino that brightly colored the players’ entrance march at the Spring Koshien in 2017.
Its lyrics gently resonate in our hearts, reminding us that true happiness lies in the small moments of everyday life and that warmth is born from human connections.
Released in October 2016 as Hoshino’s ninth single, it became a social phenomenon as the theme song for the drama “We Married as a Job!” (“Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu”), in which he starred.
It’s a magical track that naturally brings a smile to your face when you’re taking a new step forward or feeling a little worn out.
ultramarineYOASOBI
One of YOASOBI’s signature songs, released in 2020.
Ikura’s crystal-clear vocals, the grand and beautiful choral parts, and the vividly colorful melody that shifts and evolves are all striking features.
While carrying a sense of bewilderment, it also delivers a powerful message about taking a new step toward hope for the future, which really resonates.
It was even used as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Sukkiri” dance project—an uplifting number that cheers on a positive new beginning, perfect for a page in your youth.
At all times.Makihara Noriyuki
It was chosen as an entrance march for the 91st National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament at the same time as “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana,” which was also written and composed by Noriyuki Makihara.
As The Mainichi Newspapers announced—“Since it is the last tournament of the Heisei era, we selected songs that symbolize the Heisei period”—it is truly a timeless classic loved across generations.
Its message, “You are fine just as you are,” resonates with people of any era, reaching every heart.
It’s a motivational song that seems to offer kindness and strength to everyone who hears it—not only to the high school baseball players brimming with dreams and hope.