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 (71–80)

strollHisaishi Joe

Band Hit: Stroll

strollHisaishi Joe

Composed as the opening theme for the Ghibli masterpiece My Neighbor Totoro, the song “Sanpo” is, as its title suggests, characterized by a breezy feel that’s perfect for marching.

It’s widely known across all ages, making it a great recommendation for any sports day—from elementary school events to community gatherings.

That said, watching little children march to this tune is irresistibly cute.

There also seem to be marching band arrangements available, so be sure to consult them when performing.

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Military MarchFranz Schubert

Military March (Schubert)

Military MarchFranz Schubert

Composed in 1818, the Three Marches Militaires are piano duets that Schubert wrote to teach the two daughters of the Esterházy family.

Of the three pieces, No.

1 is particularly famous, and the orchestral, wind band, and solo piano arrangements are also frequently performed.

You’ve probably heard it at least once.

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Heaven and HellOfufenbakku

Heaven and Hell / Sports Day BGM

Heaven and HellOfufenbakku

This piece boasts overwhelming power and brilliance, expressing the story of Orpheus and Eurydice from Greek mythology with a lively rhythm.

Created by Offenbach as a satire of 19th-century French society, it is still widely used today as a staple at school sports days.

Premiered in October 1858 at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris, it achieved an astonishing 228 performances by the following year.

Its dynamic melody and strong beat make it perfect as an entrance march for athletic festivals and sports events.

Everyone can clap along and get excited together, and it also works well as a cheering song for competitions.

With a familiar tune that people of all ages have likely heard at least once, it’s a charming work that naturally brings smiles to both audiences and performers.

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Critical HitRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – A Masterstroke [Official Music Video]

Critical HitRADWIMPS

Overflowing with fiery passion and strength, this is the track RADWIMPS released to the world in December 2013 on the album “X to O to Tsumi to.” The protagonist, who can’t surpass their own expectations no matter how many regrets they pile up, is striking as they wrestle between ideals and reality yet still take a bold step forward by following their true feelings.

The music video—shot at Ageo Municipal Baseball Stadium in Saitama Prefecture with 1,500 extras—was directed by Takuro Okubo.

This work harmonizes Yojiro Noda’s poetic lyrics with the band’s powerful sound to stunning effect, capturing the hearts of many listeners and dominating the on-air charts at FM stations to take the No.

1 spot.

It’s a song that gives you a strong push on the back in those moments when you want to look ahead and dash forward with everything you’ve got—like the exit scene at a school sports day.

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together; along with; bothWANIMA

WANIMA – Together (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

together; along with; bothWANIMA

This song, which celebrates friendship, hope, and the strength to overcome hardship, fills listeners with energy and courage.

WANIMA’s exhilarating, fast-paced sound and positive message stand by those who continue to face challenges, serving as a powerful support.

Released in August 2016 as the theme song for Nivea Kao’s “8×4” commercial, it also carries the members’ deep love for their hometown of Kumamoto and their hopes for its recovery.

Included on the album “Are You Coming?”, the track was also performed at the 2017 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

With its strong message, the song brings the perfect blend of excitement and refreshment for a school sports day’s exit scene.

It is expected to heighten the sense of unity in the venue, along with the children’s feelings of accomplishment and emotion after giving their all in competition.

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