[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 BGM to Ignite Your Fighting Spirit! (31–40)
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
Aoi to Natsu is the theme song for the film Ao-natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-nichi.
The track is by the five-member co-ed rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Capturing a summery youth vibe, this song is perfect for a tug-of-war scene! Even though sports festivals are in the fall, playing popular J-pop definitely boosts students’ motivation.
It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser—be sure to give it a listen!
One moreFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
When it comes to sports days and athletic festivals, they’re the stars of school events—youthful moments that become lifelong memories.
And if we’re talking about artists who support that youthful spirit, it’s got to be FUNKY MONKEY BΛBY’S.
Among their songs, “Ato Hitotsu” is especially great for tug-of-war.
Tug-of-war is all about stamina and teamwork.
When you want to dig deep and push just a little more, this song coming on will definitely help you hold your ground!
OrangeSPYAIR
A refreshing yet powerful track that somehow evokes a touch of poignancy.
Released in February 2024, this SPYAIR song was chosen as the theme for the film Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle.
It’s a perfect fit for tug-of-war events at school sports days and athletic festivals.
With the power to ignite the athletes’ fighting spirit and lift the crowd’s excitement, it’s sure to get everyone united and fired up!
Night Sky Patrol of TomorrowOrangestar
It’s the Vocaloid masterpiece “Asu no Yozora Shoukaihan,” released in 2015.
The title is a bit tricky—“哨戒班” is read “shoukaihan.” The lyrics, which feel like they look at a farewell and the future beyond it, are profound and thought-provoking.
Even so, the strong sense of moving forward into the future makes it, I think, a perfect fit as background music for a sports day event.
RISINGYoshida Kyōdai
When it comes to songs that hype up a tug-of-war where the whole team works together, “RISING” is the go-to.
Performed by the Yoshida Brothers on Tsugaru shamisen, it was released in 2005.
The track opens with grand drumming, making it a great choice to start right at the cue for the tug-of-war.
The passionate band arrangement intertwined with the Tsugaru shamisen’s tones will ignite the competition.
It’s a track with a driving sound that perfectly matches tug-of-war—one of the marquee events in school sports festivals.
Why not use this Japanese-style instrumental as your BGM?
[Sports Day] Recommended Songs for Tug-of-War: A Curated Selection of Powerful BGM That Ignites Fighting Spirit! (41–50)
NIPPONShiina Ringo
When it comes to World Cup songs, I bet many people think of this one.
Commissioned by NHK and written by Ringo Sheena, it was used as the theme song for soccer-related programs starting with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
You can feel the blue flame that evokes Samurai Blue and the players’ shivers before battle! With its dry, driving guitar that sounds incredibly cool and fires you up, it’s the perfect track for a tug-of-war where sheer strength clashes.
A view I’ve never seen beforeSuda Masaki
The actor Masaki Suda’s debut single as a solo singer, “Mitakoto mo nai Keshiki,” is a landmark first release from 2017.
While his songs may often be associated with ballads, this one is an up-tempo rock tune.
Its moving lyrics, delivered powerfully in Suda’s voice, carry an energy that can make a special day even more special.
As expected from someone who excels as both an actor and a voice actor, the expressive quality he brings to the song gives it an extraordinary sense of drama.
