[March] Carefully selected popular songs recommended for entrance and exit at sports days and athletic festivals!
The parade of classes and groups that kicks off sports days and athletic festivals.
In the past, classical pieces were the mainstay, but in recent years you often see entrance scenes on social media set to a wide range of music—from classic marches to popular J-pop.
In this article, we’ll introduce famous pieces originally composed as marches, as well as J-pop and anime songs arranged for marching.
If you can hum the melody but can’t recall the title, this might be your solution!
We hope you find the perfect track to energize those entrance and exit marches.
- Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals
- [March] A curated selection of classic marches and dazzling crowd-pleasers for concerts!
- Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.
- Recommended exit songs for sports day: A collection of tracks that are perfect for a brisk, quick-march exit.
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- [Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
- [March, Foot Races, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest hits to liven up a sports day
- Songs that hype up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals: Japanese Music / J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]
- [Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
- Recommended for older kindergarteners! A collection of dance songs perfect for sports day
- Perfect for sports day parachute routines! Recommended J-pop songs
- [To All Athletes] Inspirational Sports Anthems & Empowering Theme Songs
- [Kids’ Cheer Song] Uplifting Positive Songs & Message Songs
[Marches] Carefully selected popular songs recommended for entrances and exits at sports days and athletic meets (61–70)
Seventy-six TrombonesMeredith Willson
The march that appears in American composer Meredith Willson’s signature musical, The Music Man, is “Seventy-Six Trombones.” It opens with a lively rhythm from snare drum and bass drum, followed by a bold theme played by the trombones.
There are arranged versions that incorporate melodies from various marches such as “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “The Washington Post.” In Japan, the arrangement by Naohiro Iwai—who was a composer, arranger, and conductor—is particularly well known.
Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI
Released in September 2023 by SEKAI NO OWARI, this standout track was also chosen as the opening theme for season 25 of the anime ONE PIECE.
It’s a captivating song that blends the band’s signature fantasy-like atmosphere with uplifting lyrics about accepting one’s weaknesses, turning them into strength, and striving higher.
With its up-tempo, energetic feel, it’s perfect for a school sports day entrance march as well.
The song’s worldview aligns beautifully with children working hard together, creating wonderful memories.
Baroque HoedownJean Jacques Perrey
This is a quintessential electronic music piece from the 1960s, notable for its distinctive Moog synthesizer tones.
Blending Baroque elements with a country-style rhythm, the unique composition features a bright, upbeat melody that lingers in the mind.
Included on the duo Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley’s 1967 album “Kaleidoscopic Vibrations: Electronic Pop Music From Way Out,” the work was adopted in June 1972 as the theme for Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade and has been beloved by many ever since.
It’s a perfect choice for festive, celebratory occasions—such as parade entries at sports days or award ceremonies—guaranteed to fill the venue with a lively, cheerful atmosphere.
Galaxy Express 999Godiego
Many of you may know it because school brass bands often perform it at high school baseball games.
The bright, ringing sound of the trumpets is really pleasant, isn’t it? It’s also a piece that makes it very easy to cut off partway instead of playing the whole thing, thanks to its clear timing.
the beauty among beautiesJohn Philip Sousa
Speaking of John Philip Sousa, he was a composer from the United States, and the powerful, exhilarating character typical of marches is the appeal of his works.
However, in this piece, rather than the vigor found in his signature works like “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “The Washington Post,” the melody carries an elegance and fluidity reminiscent of British marches.
It’s not one of those tunes you hear everywhere, and it’s a great choice when you want something a bit out of the ordinary.
Entrance of the Swordsman (Thunder and Lightning)Julius Fučík
A brilliant and heroic piece by Julius Fučík, a composer of whom the Czech Republic is proud.
It opens with a powerful fanfare and unfolds a melody that inspires courage and energy in the listener.
Structured in three sections, the trumpet carries the melody while the low brass plays a role akin to a chromatic scale.
Played as an entrance piece for a sports day, its rhythmic march would let participants present themselves with full vigor.
It’s also a perfect piece for wind ensemble performance!
dance hallMrs. GREEN APPLE
A song that truly resonates in the heart as a classic to brighten a refreshing morning.
Chosen as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi 8,” this track was released in May 2022 and included on the mini-album “Unity,” packing in all the charm of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Its gentle melody and catchy rhythm make it perfect for entrance and exit scenes at school sports festivals.
Since it’s a fun song everyone can dance to together, it’s also recommended as background music for a cheer dance to boost class unity.