[Sports Day] A roundup of popular Japanese songs perfect for mass performances [Athletic Festival]
Mass games are a staple event at school sports days and athletics festivals.
They’re large-scale marching performances where participants change formations in sync with the timing.
When everyone moves in perfect harmony, it feels great—not just for the audience, but for the performers too!
This time, we’ve put together a list of popular Japanese songs that are perfect for mass games.
The key point in choosing tracks is that the speed matches the movement.
We’ve selected songs that make it easy to keep your steps brisk and rhythmic!
We hope you find the perfect track to match your vision!
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[Sports Day] A roundup of popular Japanese songs perfect for mass performances [School Athletic Festival] (41–50)
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
Familiar from TV and the NHK New Year’s Eve music show, this song captures the feelings of a heartbroken man with an upbeat melody.
Its message—filled with lingering attachment to an ex, regret, and the wish to be together again—has resonated with many.
Released in October 2009, the track has spawned yearly “buzzword” versions that reflect the spirit of the times.
In fiscal 2013, it won the JASRAC Gold Award, a remarkable feat for an indie release.
It was also used in a House Foods “Mega Shaki” commercial, gaining popularity across a wide audience.
Perfect for amping up sports festivals and dance events, it’s a crowd-pleaser that kids and adults alike can enjoy dancing to.
SenbonzakuraWagakki Band
Senbonzakura by Wagakki Band, formed by blending traditional Japanese instruments—shakuhachi, koto, Tsugaru shamisen, and taiko—with Western instruments like guitar, bass, and drums.
Unlike the original track by Kurousa-P, it takes on a different atmosphere, gaining a unique allure through its added Japanese aesthetic.
The driving rhythm can boost athletes’ motivation and may help them draw out more than their usual performance.
It’s sure to fire up the cheering, too.
The lyrics, which feel like issuing a challenge to battle, are a perfect fit for events like cavalry battles.
New EraAdo
Ado’s song “New Genesis,” with its story-like lyrics, is a track that’s often used at school sports festivals.
In the chorus, raise your hands energetically and use your whole body to express yourself, conveying the image of opening up a new era with bold movements.
When performing a mass game with a large group, keeping the choreography simple in the chorus makes it easier to synchronize and creates a sense of unity in the dance.
For practice, it’s recommended to break the routine into sections, and once you get used to it, start incorporating formation changes and other transitions.
COSMIC☆HUMANHey! Say! JUMP
The nationally popular idol group Hey! Say! JUMP wrote “COSMIC☆HUMAN” for the drama Tokyo Alien Brothers, starring group member Kei Inoo.
The song carries a message of “having the courage to push forward toward your dreams.” It’s a refreshing pop tune that uses the blue sky as one of its themes, making it well-suited for performances under an open sky.
PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism
If you want to enjoy a mass performance at a relaxed pace, Official HIGE DANDism’s “Pretender” is highly recommended! Released in 2019, this song was used as the theme for the film The Confidence Man JP: Episode of the Romance.
Even if you find it hard to keep up with fast tempos, you can follow along without rushing with this track.
It’s slightly slower than walking speed, making it perfect for creating a neat, polished march.
It offers a different kind of challenge than performing at a faster tempo—an excellent choice for a mass game.
Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY
This is a classic summer song sung by PUFFY that lets you savor the season with a laid-back rhythm.
It’s also well known that the track was provided by the duo of Yosui Inoue and Tamio Okuda.
The languid, relaxed atmosphere and rhythm evoke moments spent by the summer seaside, and the tempo feels calm enough to let you smoothly unfold formations even in a mass performance.
The lyrics are notable for including many words that conjure images of the sea, leaving a stronger impression with their sound than with a storyline.
It might be fun to create highlights at the moments when striking words appear—like “crab,” for example.
TokimekiVaundy
Let me introduce Tokimeki, which gives off a bright and uplifting vibe.
This song was created by Vaundy as a tie-in with Docomo’s Youth Discount.
It portrays someone sunk in sadness and then turning positive to seize a happier life.
The music video, themed around The Wizard of Oz, has also been a hot topic.
It could be fun to incorporate elements like the cute costumes.
Another highlight is the chorus part designed for everyone to sing along.