[Hype Songs] A must-listen for athletes and sports lovers! A curated selection of tracks that boost motivation
It’s no exaggeration to say that music is an essential element in enjoying sports.
For athletes, especially those facing an important match, music plays a crucial role in daily mental care as well.
This time, we’ve selected a variety of tracks—both Japanese and international—for people who enjoy sports regularly and for athletes alike.
Rather than focusing on sports-related themes, we picked songs based on lyrics and sounds that boost motivation, so if you like high-energy tracks, you’re sure to find some favorites.
Now then, please sit back and enjoy!
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- Power songs that fill you with energy just by listening. Recommended classics and popular tracks.
- Recommended music for marathons: uplifting songs that give you the courage to power through
- Entrance Songs for Athletes | A Comprehensive Introduction to Athletes’ Game-Day Anthems!
- Perfect for sports or driving! High-energy, fast-paced tracks that will get you pumped
- [Baseball Songs] A collection of cheer songs and theme music for high school baseball, professional baseball, and Samurai Japan
- [2026] Entrance Music for Sports: Cool Western Songs and Entrance BGMs
- Songs that make you feel positive when you listen. Top recommended cheer and positive tracks.
- [Fighting Spirit] Fired up! Spotlight on entrance themes of fighters and martial artists
- Take the first step!! Songs that give you courage, songs that make you persevere when you listen
[Songs That Get You Fired Up] A must-listen for athletes and sports lovers! Carefully selected tracks to boost your motivation (91–100)
To tomorrowFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
Released in 2009 as FUNKY MONKEY BABYS’ 11th single.
It came out as a double A-side single, “Hero / Ashita e,” featuring soccer player Masashi Nakayama on the cover and in the music video.
The lyrics convey that all the practice up to now was neither a mistake nor a detour, and Nakayama’s passionate performance shines in this track.
STARSSuperfly&Tootasumatsumoto
This powerful, gospel-evoking track has the charm of both calming pre-game nerves and firing you up.
The lyrics by Tortoise Matsumoto express “universal love,” guiding listeners in a positive direction.
Released in July 2012, it was used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s coverage of the London Olympics.
Showcasing outstanding vocals, this song is perfect for sharpening your focus before a big challenge.
Why not elevate yourself with this track at your crucial moments?
[Pump-Up Tracks] A Must-Listen for Athletes and Sports Fans! Carefully Selected Motivation-Boosting Songs (101–110)
Easy RiderOkuda Tamio
It’s a song that brings to mind travel, youth, and wandering.
It’s not directly related to sports, but Tamio Okuda’s world has a gentle, heartwarming feel that’s truly healing.
So when practice isn’t going well and you’re feeling irritated or stuck, I recommend this song to soften those pent-up feelings.
MomentSMAP
It was also the theme song for TBS’s London Olympics coverage.
Many songs by the now-disbanded SMAP are uplifting.
Among them, this track especially conveys in its chorus that we’ve put in tens of thousands of hours of effort for this very moment.
It’s truly a song that helps you reclaim your pride.
TriangleSMAP
Released in 2005 as SMAP’s 38th single.
The song was used as the theme for sports broadcasts on the TV Asahi network (including the Torino Olympics and the WBC) and was also featured in the Tokyo International Women’s Marathon, where Naoko Takahashi won.
It’s a song that stirs feelings of gratitude for being alive and for the people who support you.
Don’t give up on your dreamsOkamura Takako
It’s a song themed around youth and graduation, and I think its message of chasing your dreams without giving up is perfect for athletes.
It’s truly a great song.
Takako Okamura’s voice is soothing, with all unnecessary tension melting away.
I believe it can encourage you to relax your shoulders and do your best.
Zankyo SankaAimer
A work whose grand worldview woven by visuals and music is its chief allure.
The powerful message embedded in the lyrics—“overcoming past pain and moving forward into the future”—is beautifully harmonized with the dark, sweeping melody.
Aimer’s distinctive vocals resound with deep emotion and stir the heart.
It was released digitally in advance in December 2021, followed by a CD single in January 2022.
Chosen as the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc, it drew major attention, including taking two crowns on Billboard Japan from its digital release.
Perfect for when you need the courage to walk toward your ideals or to fire yourself up.
Listening to this piece while training will surely give you the strength to push past your limits.