Support songs for the Japan national soccer team: a roundup of classic chants and past World Cup theme songs
Every time international matches are held, starting with the World Cup that comes once every four years, excitement sweeps across Japan.
One thing you can’t do without at Japan national team matches is the support songs!
From chants sung by supporters during matches to theme songs for broadcast programs, countless support songs have been loved over the years.
In this article, we’ll introduce chants sung during matches as well as past theme songs!
We’ll also share the original songs behind the classic chants, so be sure to give those a listen too.
Chants and Fight Songs (1–10)
VAMOS! NIPPON
A staple song used as a chant to cheer for Japan’s national team, with the word “Japan” swapped out for the name of the team being supported.
“Vamos” is Spanish for “let’s go,” conveying a sense of moving forward together with the national team and a united will to advance as one.
The original song is Pop Goes the World by the Canadian pop group Men Without Hats, and it’s unique in that it incorporates background lines rather than the main melody.
It’s a classic chant that emphasizes the feeling that supporters are fighting alongside the players.
For DecadesLittle Glee Monster
An uplifting anthem that sings of the strength to face forward through setbacks and tears, and the will to keep walking together toward our dreams.
Little Glee Monster harnesses their signature harmonies to deliver a grand, powerful melody that stirs the listener’s heart.
Included on the album “Ambitious,” this track has been selected as the official J.League support song for 2025 and will be featured in stadiums and game broadcasts.
This warm fusion of sports and music will gently encourage everyone striving toward their goals.
Aida
This is the piece performed in Act 2, Scene 2 of the opera Aida, composed by Giuseppe Verdi.
As its title, Triumphal March, suggests, it is played in the most famous scene where Radamès returns in triumph at the head of his army.
You can really feel the pride in the nation and the martial spirit through its powerful, majestic sound.
Being an operatic piece, it has a strong sense of narrative and many developments, but as a soccer chant the opening phrase is sung repeatedly.
With supporters shouting along to the melody, the piece conveys a forceful energy that feels ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
Japan Ole
This is one of the very simple, classic chants used to cheer on the Japan national team.
Precisely because it’s simple, it’s easy for everyone to synchronize their voices, and the message of support can be delivered directly—that’s the key point.
The “Ole” you often hear in soccer situations comes from Spanish and Portuguese and means things like “Go!”; with a single word, it seems to express a variety of emotions.
It’s a staple chant that focuses on uniting voices and expressing the bond between players and supporters.
Everything, everything for my darling (A Kiss for My Cherie)Michel Polnareff
A classic of French pop whose light, rhythmic groove resonates with the heart.
It’s a love song that sings of devoted feelings for a cherished person, gripping listeners and never letting go.
Released in 1969, this track became a career-defining song for Michel Polnareff.
In Japan, it gained popularity as a soccer supporter’s anthem around the time of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, and even in 2024 it remains beloved—sung during Japan’s matches at the Paris Olympics.
Expressing the resolve to give everything for the one you love, it works brilliantly as a chant, lifting spirits to the fullest.
Moriyasu Night
Born from the passionate voices of supporters, this chant is charged with an energy that shakes the stadium.
It debuted at the first Japan national team match held at Hiroshima’s new stadium.
Adapted from Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s “Hiroshima Night,” the chant carries respect for Coach Moriyasu—who previously managed the club—as well as a strong devotion to the national team.
In a simple yet powerful supporters’ song style, it fuses elements of rock and stadium anthems, designed so fans can clap in unison as they sing.
Resounding in the closing stages of the match, the chant energizes the players and fosters a sense of unity throughout the stadium.
It’s a perfect track not only for soccer fans but for anyone who wants to cheer with passion.
Entertainer
A staple chant with a light, catchy melody, this song lifts your spirits and propels you forward.
Its original tune is Scott Joplin’s ragtime piano piece “The Entertainer,” whose airy melody is familiar from various background music.
In the cheer, the main theme takes center stage, and as supporters’ shouts layer over the lightly unfolding melody, it creates a unique, wave-like swell.
The title of the piece is also noteworthy: it frames the players who delight the supporters as “entertainers,” conveying a message of encouragement directed toward them.