Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!

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.

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.

[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM! (101–110)

earnest desireSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Ketsubou” MV

earnest desireSUPER BEAVER

A gem of a rock number that strikingly portrays the importance of human connection and smiles arrives from SUPER BEAVER.

One person’s happiness is built through the involvement of many, and smiles spread to those around us.

This song sings about such simple, subtle feelings in straightforward words.

Its lyrics, which encourage looking warmly upon others and embracing a generous heart, resonate strongly with the emotions of youth.

Included on the February 2024 album “Ongaku” (Music), the release also features several buzzworthy tracks such as “Gradation,” the theme song for Tokyo Revengers 2.

It’s a perfect choice for school events or sports festivals, ideal for young people who want to reaffirm their bonds with friends.

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asking for the moonKANA-BOON

KANA-BOON “Naimono Nedari” Music Video

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.

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WHAT YOU WANTMizuki Nana

Nana Mizuki “WHAT YOU WANT” Music Clip (Short Ver.)

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.

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Linda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTS

[Official] THE BLUE HEARTS “Linda Linda” [1st Single (1987/5/1)] THE BLUE HEARTS / Linda Linda

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.

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Hoshino Takashi

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ROOFTOPS feat. Satoshi Fujiwara (Official HIGE DANDism)KERENMI

KERENMI / ROOFTOPS feat. Satoshi Fujiwara (Official HIGE DANDism) [Music Video]

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.

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