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[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 you up (81–90)

Perfect-Sense DreamerONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK "The Totally Sensational Dreamer"

Perfect-Sense DreamerONE OK ROCK

An aggressive rock number by ONE OK ROCK that champions valuing instinct over logic and the importance of always pushing forward! Its powerful vocals and driving sound will inspire anyone who listens.

The track was selected as the ending theme for the TBS TV program “Arabikidan,” and upon its release in February 2010, it reached No.

9 on the Oricon weekly chart—marking the band’s first-ever Top 10 entry.

It’s the perfect song to boost your motivation during a workout, delivering a fiery message that feels like it’s telling you, “Now’s the time to get moving!”—sure to ignite your determination.

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SignalWANIMA

WANIMA “Signal” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

SignalWANIMA

A song filled with courage and hope that sets listeners’ hearts ablaze! It features a driving, fast-paced sound and uplifting lyrics, carrying the message: “Even if we’re unfinished, let’s keep challenging ourselves.” Included on the January 2018 album “Everybody!!,” it was performed with 1,000 eighteen-year-olds on the NHK special program “18-sai Matsuri.” It was also used as the commercial song for Lotte Ice “Sou.” This is a track that gives a push to young people standing at life’s crossroads, such as during entrance exams or job hunting.

All the more reason to listen when you’re struggling with worries or anxiety—you’re sure to find courage.

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I’ll tell you what you don’t know—listen up, SHOW.TOKONA-X

TOKONA-X Ignorant? I'll tell you, SHOW

I’ll tell you what you don’t know—listen up, SHOW.TOKONA-X

TOKONA-X, the legendary rapper representing Aichi.

He passed away from heatstroke at the age of 26, but he’s still spoken of as a legend among heads.

This track is the masterpiece where you can feel his fiery vibes the most.

Within Japanese hip-hop it’s old-school, so the rhyming isn’t complex, but the lyrical message is extremely strong—highly recommended.

It was released in January 2004 and reached No.

84 on the Oricon charts.

It was reissued in October 2013.

It’s perfect as BGM for a tug-of-war at a school sports day, and great for training, too!

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S.P.LThe Birthday

The Birthday – S.P.L

S.P.LThe Birthday

The Birthday’s song is a work that fuses the intensity of rock with poetic lyrics.

This piece depicts the power of love, with striking imagery like pink-colored love and the beauty of the world.

It was released in April 2024 as part of the EP “April,” followed by a vinyl edition in July.

The band has also provided music across a wide range of media, including the opening theme for the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.

With its exhilarating pace and energetic lyrics, it’s a perfect BGM choice for a tug-of-war at a school sports day.

Highly recommended for anyone looking to stoke their fighting spirit.

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Pump ItThe Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas – Pump It (Official Music Video)

Pump ItThe Black Eyed Peas

Pump It, with its memorable and striking intro phrase, really sticks in your head.

Widely used across various media, this track was created by the American music group The Black Eyed Peas.

It delivers a unique sound that blends surf music and rock instrumentation with hip-hop, evoking images of the seaside and sandy beaches.

Its fresh yet passionate melody is perfect for energizing an intense tug-of-war.

It’s also a great pick for clap-along cheering over its lively beat.

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