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 BGM That Fires Up Your Fighting Spirit (91–100)

Believe in YourselfAbe Mao

Mao Abe – Believe in yourself (Official Music Video)

Believe in YourselfAbe Mao

Abe Mao’s 2014 release, the supremely encouraging anthem “Believe in yourself.” Above all, its stern yet gentle, uplifting lyrics make a strong impression.

She’s a singer-songwriter who has stood on many big stages and thrived, so the cheers that come from her carry real energy.

Many people have surely been empowered by this rock tune that sings about her way of life.

I’m sure it would make a perfect theme song that steels the heart—even for a tug-of-war at a school sports day!

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Murakami Shinpei

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I can still go on.Abe Mao

Mao Abe – I Can Still Go On [Mada Ikemasu] (Official Music Video)

I can still go on.Abe Mao

Singer-songwriter Mao Abe.

Since her debut, she has delivered a string of hits with her powerfully sharp vocals.

The track Mada Ikemasu is a standout, laying gritty rock energy over brisk, jangly acoustic guitar strumming.

Released in 2020, it shows her music sharpening once again several years after her debut, setting our hearts ablaze.

It’s a song that makes the high-stakes drama of a tug-of-war even more thrilling.

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Murakami Shinpei

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LuluAdo

[Ado] RuRu (Rule)

LuluAdo

Ado is known for her overwhelming vocal power and sharp, message-driven songs.

This track is a powerful piece that portrays doubt and defiance toward society’s rules.

Chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Billion×School,” it was released in July 2024.

With lyrics by Vocaloid producer MARETU, the song clearly embodies a stance of breaking through established values.

Ado’s vocals carry an intensity that ignites listeners’ hearts.

It’s the perfect song to hear before competitions that demand strength and grit—like a tug-of-war—guaranteed to fire you up.

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Sacrificemafumafu

[MV] Sacrifice / Mafumafu – Opening Theme Song for To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts

Sacrificemafumafu

Mafumafu is an artist who overwhelms listeners across a wide vocal range, from low to high notes.

Mafumafu’s “Sacrifice” is also the theme song for the anime To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts.

It’s a fast-paced, powerful track that feels like strength welling up from deep within your body.

Perfect as tug-of-war BGM when you need power and a firm push!

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Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Fourth MovementAntonín Leopold Dvořák

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Fourth Movement

Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Fourth MovementAntonín Leopold Dvořák

Watch “Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World,’ Fourth Movement — Antonín Leopold Dvořák” on YouTube

A celebrated piece, noted for its powerful string sonorities and passionate fanfares, was premiered by Antonín Dvořák at Carnegie Hall in New York in December 1893.

With its majestic sound and exhilarating momentum that makes you want to move, this work was composed during his stay in America and was inspired by Native American music.

It has been recorded by many renowned conductors and orchestras, and was even used in Japanese commercials in the 1970s.

Popular as background music for school sports-day cheer battles and footraces, its thrilling performances ignite the entire venue.

Frequently used for ceremonies and graduations—bright, festive occasions—it’s perfect for creating memorable moments.

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L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2: FarandoleGeorges Bizet

[Vasily Petrenko] Georges Bizet: Farandole, from “L’Arlésienne” Suite

L'Arlésienne Suite No. 2: FarandoleGeorges Bizet

This is a powerful piece based on a traditional festive dance from the Provence region of France.

It also incorporates local Christmas carols, achieving a splendid fusion of brilliant, majestic melodies and vibrant, dynamic rhythms.

Georges Bizet’s incidental music for the play “L’Arlésienne,” premiered at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris in October 1872, ended after 21 performances; however, this work was later published in 1879 as part of a suite compiled by his friend Ernest Guiraud.

It’s a familiar piece that was also used in Disney’s educational series “Little Einsteins,” making it a perfect choice as background music for sports day marches or during competitions.

With its sense of drive and exhilaration, it’s an energetic tune that naturally makes you want to move.

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Colonel BogeyKenneth Joseph Alford

Colonel Bogey — Arranged by Tetsuya Watanabe

Colonel BogeyKenneth Joseph Alford

Beloved as a staple of school sports days, this bright and friendly march was inspired by an incident on a golf course.

Composed in 1914 by British composer Kenneth Joseph Alford, it has long been popular in performances by military and concert bands.

It became known worldwide after being used in the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai and later appeared in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club.

Its melody is simple enough to whistle and familiar to almost everyone.

At sports festivals, it’s often used as an entrance or marching tune for events, making it a perfect piece to energize the entire venue.

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