60 Years Since the Birth of "Dash KEIO"—A Spirit Passed Down Through Song

Widely known as a Keio University fight song, "Dash KEIO" has inspired not only athletes but also Keio students and Keio University alumni for over half a century since its birth in 1966. Marking its 60th anniversary this year, the song is a symbol of Keio University's cheering culture, and with its upbeat rhythm and powerful phrases, it has become established as a "song that calls for victory" in the world of amateur sports.

Behind its birth was the passion of Hisao Miyamoto, who was a member of the Keio University Cheerleading Team at the time. When soliciting fight songs, Miyamoto asked his friend and fellow Keio student Kiyoshi Natsume to compose a piece, requesting a song that would not lose to the "Combat March" created at Waseda University the previous year. According to Natsume's recollections, he finished the song in just one or two hours on the day of the application deadline. It was adopted after a review by the Keio University Cheerleading Team and has since become a melody so familiar that it is never missing from the cheering section at Meiji Jingu Stadium.

The spring 1966 game against Meiji University, where "Dash KEIO" was used for the first time, ended in a 1-1 draw, but this new cheering song brought a definite breeze during a difficult season. In the fall of that same year, Yoshio Matsumoto (Tetsuma Shiraishi), a lyricist and Keio University alumni, added lyrics that powerfully repeat the phrase "Defeat Waseda," and the song was performed at the Waseda-Keio rivalry. In the fall league matches, the team earned points against the University of Tokyo and Meiji, and the first game of the Waseda-Keio rivalry was a 3-3 draw. Although victory was missed, the song called in the momentum at key moments, and its presence grew as a strangely "lucky song."

"Dash KEIO" has played an important role not only within Keio University but also on stages such as high school baseball nationwide. Particularly at Koshien, it is so widely popular that many high schools have adopted it as their own cheering song, alongside Waseda University's "Combat March." Its good tempo and the sense of excitement that completely changes the atmosphere possess a universality loved across generations and regions, serving as proof that the cheering culture originating from Keio has spread throughout the country.

While possessing universality, "Dash KEIO" continues to evolve. In the early 1980s, the "Assault Theme" was born, and a style of singing in a medley format with "Call KEIO" in between was established. The "Chance Pattern," which combines multiple fight songs and cheering tunes, eventually became a staple for each school in the Tokyo Big6, and in recent years, similar styles are being adopted by high schools as well. As the eras passed through Heisei and Reiwa, new songs were added, and the form of cheering has constantly evolved. At its core remains "Dash KEIO," unchanged to this day.

60 years since its birth. "Dash KEIO" still resonates powerfully in the stands of Meiji Jingu Stadium, connecting the immortal spirit of Keio University to the future. It will surely continue to be passed down through generations as a symbol of Keio sports and as a masterpiece that enlivens cheering sections across the country. (Editorial Department)