Popular Cheer Songs [Japanese Music Ranking]

Soul RevolutionSuperfly57rank/position

Superfly 'Tamashii Revolution' Music Video

A soul-stirring, powerful singing voice that makes your heart leap! This is the ultimate positive song from Superfly.

The unwavering will to dive fearlessly into the unknown and turn even adversity into strength pierces deeply into the listener’s heart.

Shiho Ochi’s energetic vocals seem to awaken the instincts hidden within.

The track debuted in June 2010 as NHK’s soccer theme song and was later included on the acclaimed album “Mind Travel.” When you’re starting a new challenge or need courage to face difficulties, listening to it gives you the power to transform into your strongest self.

You can do it!Nakajima Miyuki58rank/position

Go for it!

Starting with an ominous-sounding drum in the intro, the first verse unfolds with a minimalist arrangement of conversational vocals and a bass line.

I’d like to introduce Fight!, a distinctive masterpiece by Miyuki Nakajima that has sparked many interpretations, including reactions to its shocking lyrics.

In the internet age, even if you don’t know Nakajima herself, many people likely know this song.

In fact, its first appearance was on Nakajima’s 1983 album Premonition, and it only became widely known after it was re-released more than ten years later in 1994 as the B-side to Between the Sky and You—which, thanks to its use in a commercial tie-in, became an explosive hit at the time.

The background of this song includes elements such as letters from listeners to the radio show Nakajima hosted.

Its lyrics stand apart from cheer songs that simply string together ideals and pleasant-sounding words; they possess a powerful effect that shakes listeners’ hearts in any era.

Faced with unreasonable realities, the song makes us reconsider the meaning of continuing to fight, even as we keep asking ourselves who is at fault and what is wrong.

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KOH-1

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Tomorrow, again[Alexandros]59rank/position

[Alexandros] – Tomorrow, Again (MV)

While their signature song “Wataridori” also carries a message that really hits home, the track “Ashita, Mata” seeps in gently—and it might just let all those pent-up feelings burst out and make you cry.

Released in 2017, it was also featured in a Clorets commercial.

Its appeal lies in lyrics that resonate deeply with people carrying various struggles or emotional wounds—those feeling defeated by their current situation, heartbroken, or troubled by relationships.

It’s a song that slowly spreads through your heart, offering a sense of comfort and reassurance.

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utatane

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HeroAmuro Namie60rank/position

Hero – Namie Amuro (Full)

This is the 45th single by Namie Amuro, a songstress who produced numerous hits and defined the Heisei era.

Chosen as NHK’s theme song for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Paralympics, it is also known as a national cheer anthem.

Its hope-filled lyrics and catchy, powerful melody offer a warmth that feels like a helping hand when you’re on the verge of giving up.

During her special appearance on the 2017 Kohaku Uta Gassen, it achieved a high viewership rating of 48.4% and moved many people’s hearts.

It’s highly recommended for the yutori generation as a song that gives you courage for tomorrow.

Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)Takahashi Yuu61rank/position

Yu Takahashi - Fukuwarai

Yu Takahashi has many songs that give you the strength to keep going when times are tough and help you stay positive.

This track is exactly one of those: it conveys, in a straightforward way, that smiles are a universal language that transcends linguistic barriers.

The hope that one person’s smile will inspire another’s, creating a happy chain that spreads across the world, really resonates.

Released in February 2011 as Takahashi’s third single, this song became widely loved as the CM song for Tokyo Metro’s “TOKYO HEART.” For some reason, Yu Takahashi’s music brings a deep sense of reassurance—it makes you feel like you have an unfailing ally.

Listening to it gives you that comforting feeling, like a dose of nourishment for the heart—an empowering number.

At all times.Makihara Noriyuki62rank/position

[Official] Noriyuki Makihara “No Matter What” (Music Video) [3rd Single] (1991) Noriyuki Makihara/donnatokimo [No. 1]

No matter what walls you run into, this song will help you overcome them! It’s one of Noriyuki Makihara’s signature tracks, released in June 1991 as his third single.

It was used as the theme song for the film “No Abnormalities in the Employment War,” featured in a KFC commercial, and even chosen as the entrance march for the Spring High School Baseball Tournament—proof of its popularity.

The lyrics, which celebrate the importance of being yourself, are truly compelling.

As you listen, motivation and energy naturally well up.

It’s a surefire “boost” song to play for your kids.

From Me to Youflumpool63rank/position

flumpool “Kimi ni Todoke” Music Video

This song became a hit after being selected as the theme for the film “Kimi ni Todoke.” It’s a work by flumpool, a rock band from Osaka Prefecture, released in 2010 as their fifth single.

Its charm lies in a breezy rock sound colored by beautiful strings, a tone that alone evokes youth.

The lyrics, packed tightly with feelings for someone you love, are irresistibly heart-fluttering and make you wonder who that person is in your own life.

Listen to this track and give it your all in both love and club activities!

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Araki Jakkan

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