Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

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

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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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 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.

[March] Carefully selected popular songs recommended for entering and exiting at sports days and athletic festivals! (91–100)

The wind of MayMajima Toshio

1997 Contest Piece (III) – The May Wind

The wind of MayMajima Toshio

May Breeze is a march composed by Toshio Mashima, a legend who led Japan’s wind band scene.

Chosen as a set piece for the 1997 All-Japan Band Competition, it became very popular, with more than half of that year’s participating ensembles performing it.

True to its title, it’s a refreshing march that evokes the feel of spring.

The opening section is written in 6/8 time and is played with a different sense of rhythm from the main march theme.

Getting into the groove of this changing meter is the key to playing it well.

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Mickey Mouse MarchJimmie Dodd

Mickey Mouse Club March

Mickey Mouse MarchJimmie Dodd

It originally began as the opening theme for the children’s TV show The Mickey Mouse Club, which aired on ABC in the United States from 1955 to 1960.

Since then, it has become established as Mickey’s theme song and has been used in many Disney works and related media, as well as at Disney parks around the world.

With this, it seems like children would happily march along with smiles on their faces.

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idolYOASOBI

YOASOBI "Idol" Official Music Video

idolYOASOBI

[Idol] YOASOBI 'Flag × Pom-pom × Easy Dance' — Theme song of Oshi no Ko — A dance you can do at sports festivals and performances! Second installment of the easy arranged dance!

This is a song by YOASOBI, known for their style of turning novels into music.

Released digitally in April 2023 as the opening theme for the TV anime Oshi no Ko, it received high acclaim on music charts both in Japan and overseas.

The lyrics portray the inner conflicts hidden behind an idol’s facade, poignantly expressing the pain of striving for perfection while concealing true love and vulnerability.

Ikura’s beautiful vocals over an uptempo track are especially striking.

Given its wide recognition and popularity, I think it’s perfect as an entrance song to kick off a sports day.

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Anpanman’s MarchMiki Takashi

Anpanman's March (Wind Ensemble Hit)

Anpanman's MarchMiki Takashi

This song, known as the opening theme for the anime Soreike! Anpanman, is so famous that virtually everyone—from small children to adults—has heard it.

As the title includes the word “March,” it’s composed in a style perfectly suited to a march, and sheet music arranged for concert band and marching band is available.

It’s a recommended piece for athlete entrances in children’s events and for entrance processions at kindergarten sports days.

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Living in ColorChantry Johnson and Dewain Whitmore

Tokyo Disney Resort® – 40th Anniversary Theme Song “Living in Color”

Living in ColorChantry Johnson and Dewain Whitmore

[Living in Color] Disneyland 40th Anniversary Theme Song: “Pom-Poms & Flags & Easy Dance” — Anyone Can Dance It! Perfect for sports days and recitals! Simple arranged dance! (Living in Color)

Created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Tokyo Disney Resort, this song features lyrics that emphasize positive energy and brightness, paired with a catchy, pop sound.

Released in June 2023 and even used in Disney parades, it has gained support from a wide range of audiences.

Its uplifting and energizing vibe makes it perfect not only for entrance and exit marches at sports festivals but also for flag dances! If kids dance while waving flags, it’s sure to bring the whole venue together and get everyone excited.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced marches and processional pieces that we’d love for you to use in sports days and athletic festival parades.

In addition to classic, well-known marches, we’ve also picked out J-pop songs arranged for marching or wind ensemble, so please choose your favorites! Live performances by a concert band are, of course, also highly recommended.