Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

[Sports Day] Recommended songs for tug-of-war: powerful BGM that ignites your fighting spirit

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

When you hear “music for tug-of-war at a school sports day,” does any song come to mind?

You might easily imagine tracks for relays or sprints, but when it comes to tug-of-war, nothing quite clicks—that’s probably true for many people.

So in this article, we’ll introduce songs from a wide range of genres—popular J-pop, international pop, video game music, and more—that seem like a great match for tug-of-war.

From powerful, driving tunes to high-energy tracks that stoke your fighting spirit, we’ve gathered plenty of punchy songs.

Use this as a reference when choosing your BGM!

[Sports Day] Recommended Songs for Tug-of-War: Powerful, Battle-Ready BGM (61–70)

Theme of the Unruly Shogun

Abarenbō Shōgun Opening Theme

Theme of the Unruly Shogun

This piece was composed as the opening theme for the period drama series Abarenbo Shogun.

Its music evokes a fiery, surging fighting spirit, making it perfect for a tug-of-war scene where the whole team gives their all.

The dynamic brass band sound, unfolding alongside the lively drum performance, will heighten the excitement of the event.

At just under a minute long, the track also fits the time limit for the competition.

As you pull the rope with strength, choose this blazing, fast-paced sound as your BGM.

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migratory bird[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Wataridori (MV)

migratory bird[Alexandros]

It’s a 2015 release by the four-piece rock band [Alexandros], a track that was also used in a commercial.

The power of the chorus alone makes you feel like you could win a competition just by listening to it.

It’s a song that would fit a variety of sports, tug-of-war included!

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OH!SHISHAMO

SHISHAMO「OH！」

OH!SHISHAMO

SHISHAMO is a three-woman rock band.

Their song “OH!” is an exhilarating guitar rock tune where distorted electric guitar rides a powerful beat.

With its fast-paced feel topped by female vocals, it overflows with a youthful vibe, making for a wonderfully refreshing rock number.

It would fit surprisingly well for a tug-of-war at a school sports day, too.

Under a clear blue sky, it’s a track that wraps the athletes’ all-out efforts—their sweat and tears—in something cool and dramatic.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Symphony No. 5 “Revolution,” Fourth MovementDmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 “Revolution,” Fourth Movement

Symphony No. 5 “Revolution,” Fourth MovementDmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich

Watch “Symphony No. 5 ‘Revolution,’ Fourth Movement — Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich” on YouTube

A masterpiece that combines power and grandeur, this work dynamically conveys the appeal of Dmitri Shostakovich’s symphony.

The orchestra’s commanding performance instantly elevates the atmosphere of a gymnasium, creating excitement befitting a tense competition.

At its premiere in Leningrad in November 1937, Yevgeny Mravinsky and the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra achieved great success with their performance.

Featuring march-like phrases and a forceful rhythm, this piece is an ideal BGM to lift the spirits of all participants and lead them onto a grand stage.

Used for the main events of a sports day or for entrances and exits, it will foster a strong sense of unity throughout the venue.

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superstarKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi “Superstar”

superstarKetsumeishi

This song features a captivating blend of hip-hop and pop, filled with messages of positivity and encouragement.

It celebrates everyone’s innate talents and charms, emphasizing the importance of believing in one’s potential.

Released on November 4, 2020 as Ketsumeishi’s 33rd single, it was also selected as the theme song for the TV Asahi anime Crayon Shin-chan starting October 3 of the same year.

The music video, filmed entirely in India, visually expresses its brightness and uplifting message.

Perfect as a cheer song for school sports days and athletic festivals, this track energizes listeners and gently supports those striving toward their goals—truly an ideal anthem of encouragement.

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Kono Yubi Tomareyosugala

Yosugala – Kono Yubi Tomare

Kono Yubi Tomareyosugala

This is yosugala’s entrance anthem for their next stage, infused with strong, gentle encouragement.

It’s a song of support for those facing setbacks and self-doubt, expressing the desire to keep believing in others’ brilliance and to stand by them.

It tenderly accompanies people confronting hardship and loneliness, delivering a moving message: keep believing in the inner light everyone carries.

The track was recorded for release in March 2025 and premiered at the solo show at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA on February 8 of the same year.

Created by the members of AliA, its band-born richness in melody and sense of scale vividly color the song’s world.

Played during the exit of a school sports day, it would be etched in the hearts of the participating children as a cherished memory filled with deep emotion.

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Critical HitRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – A Masterstroke [Official Music Video]

Critical HitRADWIMPS

This is a rock anthem packed with a grand message that resonates with young people, included by RADWIMPS in their December 2013 album “X to O to Tsumi to.” Riding on powerful guitar riffs and driving drum rhythms, it portrays the struggles and growth of a protagonist trying to find their own path in the midst of youth.

Its uncompromising alternative sound is brimming with energy, making it perfect for opening or closing ceremonies at school sports days.

The music video was filmed at Ageo Municipal Baseball Stadium in Saitama Prefecture and features a massive scale with 1,500 extras.

This work strongly supports students in the thick of their youth and those standing at life’s crossroads.

It’s the perfect song when you need the courage to take a new step forward.

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