[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
Speaking of relays, they’re the event that gets the crowd most excited at a sports day! The music that adds flair to the race is also one of the key elements.
I’m sure you, too, have a song that comes to mind as relay BGM.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of tracks—from classic relay staples everyone’s heard to J-pop numbers perfect for a heated competition.
They’re all songs that will make you want to start running, so use them as a guide when choosing your playlist.
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[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM! (91–100)
It starts here!DREAMS COME TRUE
An encouraging song by DREAMS COME TRUE that sings of life’s challenges and hopes through the lens of an ekiden relay race.
Its lively rhythm fuses ’80s disco with contemporary reggaeton, showcasing a cosmopolitan, borderless musicality.
Beyond cheering on the runners, it’s a powerful anthem that gives courage to anyone taking a new step forward.
Released in January 2025, the track was written as the theme song for an ekiden event commemorating the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
It has also been chosen as the theme song for the film “Kaminofude: The Island of Kaiju,” drawing significant attention.
It’s a perfect choice to stage a unifying finale for all participants during the exit scene of a school sports day.
asking for the moonKANA-BOON
If you want a casual vibe for a relay, I recommend KANA-BOON’s “Naimononedari”! It’s a track from their first mini-album “Boku ga CD wo Dashitara,” released in 2013, and the catchy chorus is its big draw.
They often play it at concerts and outdoor festivals to hype up the crowd.
While opinions may differ between men and women on their looks and personalities, the lyrics straightforwardly express the feelings they hold inside.
The overall tone is bright, so it’s a song you can use for an entire relay segment.
[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM! (101–110)
To the Lightmiwa
Hikari e, a signature song by singer-songwriter miwa, gives you the strength to push forward.
Her gentle, clear voice and lyrics that appeal to the power of love are striking.
The track has an electronic feel right from the start, creating a stylish and cool impression.
When the chorus kicks in, the brisk rhythm and lyrics expressing the intensity of love make it even cooler.
With its cool vibe, it seems perfect for amping up the mood in middle and high school relay races.
For kindergarten and elementary school sports days, the chorus pairs well with the sight of children—raised with so much love—showing how much they’ve grown, so it’s also easy to use there.
WHAT YOU WANTMizuki Nana
It’s an intense 8-beat track.
With its strong sense of speed, it could be great for boosting momentum again around the middle of a relay.
The call-and-response parts in the song help create a sense of unity, so I recommend it.
This track is a single by Nana Mizuki, released more than a year after her previous work, and it came out on September 26, 2018.
GO!!!FLOW
A track that resounds with a passionate rock sound.
Known as one of FLOW’s signature songs, it also made waves as the opening theme for the TV anime Naruto.
Since its release in 2004, this piece has captured the hearts of many fans and never let go.
The lyrics, which feel like they cheer on those striving toward their dreams, are sure to give runners a push.
Play it as relay BGM, and both athletes and spectators will undoubtedly come together in excitement!
Linda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTS
THE BLUE HEARTS are a legendary rock band that countless artists at the forefront of today’s J-POP scene cite as an influence.
Their major-label debut single “Linda Linda,” including its electrifyingly impactful performance, has become synonymous with THE BLUE HEARTS.
Its bursting, catchy chorus and fast, punkish ensemble are sure to hype up participants even at a school sports day.
It’s an eccentric rock tune that continues to be loved across generations.
ROOFTOPS feat. Satoshi Fujiwara (Official HIGE DANDism)KERENMI
KERENMI is a project launched by Koichi Tsutaya as a trackmaker (a composer who creates dance music such as hip-hop).
“ROOFTOPS” is a song featuring Satoshi Fujihara of Official HIGE DANDism on vocals.
The track also served as the theme song for AbemaTV’s “Tsuki to Ookami-chan ni wa Damasarenai.” It’s a masterpiece born from the combination of the vocalist’s soaring high notes and Tsutaya’s composition, which crafts a digital feel and a distinctive world.
The baton-passing within the grand, digitally rendered soundscape evokes images of children running toward a new era.