[March] Carefully selected popular songs recommended for entrance and exit at sports days and athletic festivals!

Anpanman Exercisedoriimingu

Anpanman Taiso (Anpanman Gymnastics)

A lively, high-energy song that makes classic sports day events even more fun! Its bright, positive lyrics lift children’s spirits, and the rhythmic melody and easy-to-follow choreography make everyone want to move naturally.

Released by Dreaming in March 1993, this track was also used as the ending theme for the TV anime “Anpanman.” The song carries a message of holding hands with friends and overcoming moments of lost confidence or loneliness together, making it a perfect choice to accompany the tamaire (ball-toss) event at school sports days.

Highly recommended for those looking for a song everyone can enjoy dancing to while coming up with choreography that incorporates tamaire motions with the children.

Tokyo Olympic MarchKoseki Yūji

Tokyo Olympic March with Fanfare, 1964

In October 1964, when a stately march resounded through the National Stadium, the piece composed by Yuji Koseki became a pivotal work that colored the first Olympic Games ever held in Asia.

Its elegant yet powerful brass sound and vibrant rhythm not only enlivened the athletes’ entrance but also stood as a symbol to the world of Japan’s postwar recovery.

Brimming with brightness and splendor befitting a festival of peace and youth, the work offers a melody of hope that only a composer who had lived through war could express.

It is truly a piece you’d want to use for a sports day opening ceremony or entrance parade—an elevated, dignified march perfect for highlighting children’s big moment on stage.

March “Beyond the K-Point”Takahashi Shinya

March “Beyond the K-Point” — Composer: Shinya Takahashi; Performance: Tokyo Ryusei Wind Orchestra; Conductor: Takao Hatakeda

A passionate and powerful wind band march adds vibrant color to any sports day.

Composed by Shinya Takahashi in 1999 as a set piece for the All Japan Band Competition, this work is named after the K-point in ski jumping.

Its charm lies in a bright, lively melody interwoven with modern harmonies that create a rich, resonant sound.

You can enjoy a commanding performance of this piece on the album “All Japan Band Competition: Reference Performances of Set Pieces 1997–1999,” recorded by the Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band (now the Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra) as a reference rendition.

From scenes of vigorous marching to the opening of the ceremony, this is a piece that shines in every moment of a sports day.

Just listening to it straightens your posture and gives you a refreshing urge to step forward—perfectly suited to the spirit of the event.

Sports MarchMayuzumi Toshirō

Sports March / Toshiro Mayuzumi — Nippon TV sports program theme song

This is a march for orchestra known as a landmark masterpiece that blazed a new trail, distinguished by its powerful, dynamic melody.

Composed by Toshiro Mayuzumi in 1953 at the request of Nippon Television, the work is a wonderful piece that evokes a bright, forward-looking spirit.

Its brilliant trumpet sonorities and exhilarating rhythms lift the heart.

It has been a mainstay on Nippon Television’s sports programs, boasting a track record of use across numerous shows, including professional wrestling broadcasts, professional baseball night games, and the Hakone Ekiden.

It is truly a piece that has walked alongside the history of sports broadcasting in Japan.

It’s a perfect choice when you want to energize a school sports day or athletic event, or when you simply need a boost.

It starts here!DREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE “It Starts Here!”

Brimming with dynamic rhythm and a powerful melody, this track serves as a heartwarming anthem that, while a theme song for an ekiden relay race, also celebrates life’s challenges, hard work, and those taking a bold new step forward.

DREAMS COME TRUE fuse ’80s disco sounds with Latin grooves into a lively arrangement that gently pushes listeners onward.

The song was released digitally ahead of time in January 2025 and was later included as a single in March of the same year as the theme song for the “ACN EXPO EKIDEN 2025 Commemorating the Osaka-Kansai Expo.” It’s a buoyant tune that, when played during practice for school sports days or athletic festivals, naturally sparks a sense of camaraderie with teammates and a renewed determination to reach your goals.

March ‘Memories Refrain’Itō Shion

2025 All-Japan Band Competition Required Piece III: March “Memories Refrain” / Shion Ito [Osaka Toin Wind Orchestra]

A march notable for its dazzling modulations from the very beginning and the lively interplay unique to wind band instrumentation.

With refined tonal writing and beautiful harmonies, it incorporates contemporary elements to create an ambitious work.

While honoring tradition, it brings in a fresh breeze—showcasing the talent of the young composer, Shion Ito.

Published by the All-Japan Band Association in February 2025 and selected as the 2025 All Japan Band Competition Required Piece III, its appeal is spreading through performances by ensembles across the country.

This piece enables performers to rediscover the allure of their own instruments and offers a heart-stirring experience that captures the joy of ensemble playing.

Ceremonial MarchSakai Takasuke

Ceremonial March / Takamasa Sakai — Kobe College Department of Music Wind Orchestra (Conductor: Satoshi Yagisawa)

Opening with a brilliant fanfare, this masterpiece features a powerful, dynamic performance that stirs the heart.

One of Takamasa Sakai’s signature works, it received the Shitaya Prize from the Japan Band Directors Association in 2000, and was selected as a set piece for the Central Japan Band Competition in 2005 and 2006.

With its majestic atmosphere—often chosen as a concert opener—why not use this piece to grace the opening of your sports day?