[Basketball Cheer Songs] A curated selection of tournament theme songs and energizing anthems!
Basketball’s popularity is on the rise in Japan, thanks to the national team’s strong performances at the Olympics and the excitement surrounding the professional B.League.
Japanese players shining in the NBA are also drawing a lot of attention.
Beyond cheering through the TV, many people are passionately involved in school clubs or heading to arenas to enjoy games in person.
In this article, we’ve gathered basketball-related songs: tracks you can use to cheer during games, theme songs from the domestic league and international tournaments, and opening themes from anime that feature basketball.
They’re all perfect as pump-up BGM for practice, so whether you’re a player or a fan, be sure to check them out!
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[Basketball Cheer Songs] Carefully Selected Tournament Theme Songs and Power-Packed Anthems! (101–110)
Startin’Hamasaki Ayumi
Released in 2006 as Ayumi Hamasaki’s 39th single.
It was used as the opening theme for Capcom’s PS2 title “Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams,” and it reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a song that teaches the importance of keeping your head up and moving forward no matter how tough things get.
GuerrillaAwich
Rapper Awich, whose powerful, sexy lyrics and commanding rap skills have her hailed as a queen of the new era of hip-hop.
Her track “Guerrilla,” featured as the theme song for SoftBank’s FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 “The Same Goal” commercial, amps you up with its refrained phrases and cool beat.
The lyrics, infused with her feelings for Okinawa—her hometown and the tournament’s host—are sure to raise the voltage not only for the players but for the spectators as well.
True to its title, which means a surprise attack, it’s a number that fuels a stance of facing adversity head-on.
No.1BoA
“No.1” is the title track from BoA’s album No.1, which was simultaneously released in her home country of South Korea and in Japan in 2002.
A Japanese version was later produced and released as a single, reaching No.
3 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
It’s a punchy, danceable number characteristic of a K-pop pioneer.
With a title and lyrics about always aiming for the top, I’d especially love for basketball players to give it a listen.
Take-A-Shot! feat. PKCZ®ShuuKaRen
The opening game theme song of the B.LEAGUE 2016–17 season.
In a word, it’s just plain cool.
The vocalist’s clear, translucent voice is very pleasant to listen to and seems to gradually heighten your focus and fighting spirit.
It’s a cool, stylish track that’s perfect for the moment right before a game.
ONE MORE RUN feat.NOBUEYE VDJ MASA
An anthem chosen as the official support song for the Kanagawa VANGUARDS, the team that won the Emperor’s Cup in wheelchair basketball.
Co-written by EYE VDJ MASA (Masatane Muto) and singer-songwriter NOBU, it was released in June 2023.
Its warm, powerful message and vocals stand by your side, giving you the strength to take another step even when you feel like you’re about to lose.
Singing about the importance of caring for your teammates and believing in the future, this track pairs a catchy melody with a soothing touch, making it a great pick for refreshing breaks as well.
[Basketball Cheering Songs] A curated selection of tournament theme songs and energizing cheer anthems! (111–120)
Brighter FutureHAN-KUN
The song used for the Sun Chlorella A commercial featuring Yuta Watanabe is “Brighter Future” by HAN-KUN, a reggae artist who’s also a member of Shonan no Kaze.
It’s included on his 2020 album UNCHAINED.
The rhythmic, repetitive chorus is infectious and gets you pumped—your body just starts moving.
The track surely matches the flow of basketball, amps up the go-for-it mood, and brings the hype! The lyrics, which feel like they’re fighting alongside you to seize the future, are also empowering.
In the night sky after the rainImawano Kiyoshirō
It’s a single by RC Succession released in 1980, and it’s said to have been written about Mr.
Imawano’s beloved car, the Nissan Sunny Coupe.
As for why this song came to be used as a cheer song, it apparently started when the brass band at Mr.
Imawano’s alma mater began performing it as a tribute.
This song, which is often used in parody form, has a great groove and is perfect as a cheer anthem.
