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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 Up Your Fighting Spirit (91–100)

Street DreamsZeebra

Street Dreams

Street DreamsZeebra

This track by Zeebra, a legend in Japanese rap.

It’s a classic, but it still enjoys strong popularity.

Released in June 2005, it reached No.

16 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and stayed on the charts for 11 weeks.

It was also used as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “69★TRIBE.” Not just the rap—the track itself has high vibes.

It’s a truly rousing song about the importance of pursuing your dreams and the strength to overcome hardships.

Perfect for when you need that extra push.

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ENVYcoldrain

coldrain – ENVY (Official Music Video)

ENVYcoldrain

With powerful vocals and fierce guitar riffs, this track fires up the listener’s fighting spirit.

Centered on the anguish of toxic relationships, it portrays disappointment and inner conflict toward self-centered behavior.

Featured on the album “FATELESS,” released in October 2017, it marked the band’s first work with Warner Music Japan.

This song is also perfect as background music for tug-of-war.

Played in moments when everyone needs to pull together, it’s sure to boost team morale.

Use it for a tug-of-war event at a school sports day, and the entire venue will undoubtedly heat up!

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COME and GOsutoreitenaa

Straightener – COME and GO

COME and GOsutoreitenaa

An ambitious work by Straightener that fuses a driving, fast-paced rock sound with emotional lyrics.

Centered on themes of life’s journey and inner conflict, it portrays the rapid changes and chaotic conditions of modern society.

Released in August 2024, it was also selected as the ending theme for the sequel to the drama Golden Kamuy.

This song gives you the courage to overcome the past and move forward into the future—perfect for moments when you want to fire yourself up, like before a tug-of-war at a school sports day.

Be sure to check out this track packed with Straightener’s bold new challenge.

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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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