[Sports Day] Recommended songs for tug-of-war: powerful BGM that ignites your fighting spirit
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!
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[Sports Day] Recommended Songs for Tug-of-War: Powerful BGM That Fires Up Your Fighting Spirit (91–100)
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!
Splattack!Minegishi Tooru
“Splattack!”, composed by Toru Minegishi as the main theme for the game Splatoon.
In the game, it’s used as the background music during matches, and it’s a rock number featuring a passionate band performance.
As the theme song of a game beloved by people of all ages, it also fits perfectly with a tug-of-war where both sides pull with all their might.
Packed with fiery fighting spirit, it colors scenes where teammates work together.
How about choosing it as BGM for a school sports day event, linking it with the game’s content that encourages playing hard and never giving up until the end?
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
Familiar from TV and the NHK New Year’s Eve music show, this song captures the feelings of a heartbroken man with an upbeat melody.
Its message—filled with lingering attachment to an ex, regret, and the wish to be together again—has resonated with many.
Released in October 2009, the track has spawned yearly “buzzword” versions that reflect the spirit of the times.
In fiscal 2013, it won the JASRAC Gold Award, a remarkable feat for an indie release.
It was also used in a House Foods “Mega Shaki” commercial, gaining popularity across a wide audience.
Perfect for amping up sports festivals and dance events, it’s a crowd-pleaser that kids and adults alike can enjoy dancing to.
A victorious smile with youUkasukaji
A fusion sound of J-pop and hip-hop overflowing with youthful passion and sportsmanship.
Created by Ukasuka-G, the duo of Kazutoshi Sakurai from Mr.Children and GAKU-MC, this piece sings of the bonds between friends and the courage to take on challenges.
Its powerful message—conveying the resolve to face towering obstacles and the trust in your teammates—resonates deeply.
Released in May 2014 as a lead single from the album AMIGO, it was adopted as an official support song by the Japan Football Association and featured in various tie-ins, including Kirin’s “Japan Linking Arms” commercial song.
It’s a reliable track not only for school sports days and athletic festivals, but also for any moment when you want to strengthen teamwork or strive toward a goal together with your friends.
Hypnosis Mic -Division Battle Anthem-Division All Stars
Wildly popular on the streets, aka “HypMic.” It’s Hypnosis Mic, a character rap battle where top male voice actors face off with just a mic.
Even if you’re not into rap, it pulls you in with its sheer cool factor.
The groove is incredible—you’ll be so pumped you could start a tug-of-war.
The tracks are quite long too, so you’re set even if it turns into a long match (lol).