[Sports Day] Recommended Songs for Tug-of-War: A curated selection of powerful BGM to fire up 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: A Curated Selection of Powerful, Fight-Stirring BGM (21–30)
Soul RevolutionSuperfly
When it comes to songs that fire you up with motivation and fighting spirit, “Tamashii Revolution” has to be it.
At school sports festivals, tug-of-war is one of the most exciting events, right? To unite your class and go for the win, try listening to this track to raise your spirits.
Superfly’s soaring vocals feel amazing to hear, and the soul-stirring lyrics will pump you up too.
If you’re unsure about the BGM for tug-of-war, “Tamashii Revolution” is highly recommended.
ECHOLittle Glee Monster
This song was chosen as NHK’s rugby theme in 2019 and became a hot topic because Ayumu Goromaru appeared in the music video.
When it comes to songs that fire you up for sports, “ECHO” is the go-to.
Little Glee Monster’s members are young, fresh, and powerful, making it perfect as BGM for a school sports day.
Listen to this song that stirs your fighting spirit and aim for victory in the tug-of-war.
It’s sure to get everyone hyped.
Unite your hearts like the members of Little Glee Monster and take on the tug-of-war.
The heartfelt lyrics are another great point of this track.
[Sports Day] Recommended Songs for Tug-of-War: A Curated Selection of Powerful BGM to Ignite Your Fighting Spirit! (31–40)
Be The OnePandora
The theme song for Kamen Rider Build was written and composed by none other than Tetsuya Komuro.
Kids who watched Kamen Rider must have been thrilled.
It’s a very catchy tune, so I think it appeals to all generations.
The vocals and overall style are quite powerful, making it a perfect fit as background music for a tug-of-war competition.
Hey MickeyToni Basil
A track released by Toni Basil in 1981.
Since it’s used as background music in many places, many of you have probably heard it.
It’s an upbeat song, so it would suit not only tug-of-war but a variety of events—an especially versatile tune.
BOW AND ARROWYonezu Kenshi
A powerful track crafted by Kenshi Yonezu as the opening theme for the TV anime “Medalist.” Through the imagery of bow and arrow, it symbolically portrays challenge and growth in sports, as well as the strong bond between coach and student.
Released as a digital single on January 27, 2025, it premiered on the opening day of the nationwide tour “Kenshi Yonezu 2025 TOUR / JUNK,” where it garnered a huge response.
Listening to it before a tug-of-war will sharpen your focus and help you achieve the best results together with your teammates.
Goodbye ElegySuda Masaki
This is Masaki Suda’s “Sayonara Elegy,” which was the theme song for the drama Kiss that Kills starring Kento Yamazaki.
Although Masaki Suda is popular among women, he looks really cool in the music video strumming an acoustic guitar.
It’s the kind of thing that even elementary and middle school boys would admire.
With its upbeat, driving feel, it’s a song that would really hype up a tug-of-war as background music, wouldn’t it?
Let’s give it a tryWANIMA
At this point, there’s no doubt that this is the perfect song for tug-of-war at school sports days: “Yatte Miyou” by the three-piece punk band WANIMA.
Paired with the dynamic visuals of the well-known “Santaro” characters from the mobile phone commercials, it sounds incredibly dramatic, doesn’t it? The song is simple and straightforward, and I think its powerful performance and vocals drive the athletes’ excitement higher and higher.
It’s a reliable track that makes you clench your fists and face that make-or-break moment with determination!
