[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 That Ignites Fighting Spirit! (41–50)
Rocky Theme
Do you have a song that naturally fires up your fighting spirit when you hear it? Whether you like pro wrestling or not, I bet “Rocky’s Theme” gets your adrenaline pumping.
It’s originally known as the entrance theme for pro wrestler Mitsuo Momota, but you hear it in all kinds of sports scenes.
If you play this song as the entrance music before a tug-of-war match, it will definitely get everyone hyped.
And of course, it’d be great to play during the competition too.
FateOfisharu Higedan Dism
This is the third single by Official HIGE DANDism, hugely popular among young people and affectionately known as Higedan.
It was selected as the 2019 ABC network Summer High School Baseball support song and the theme for “Netto Koshien.” It’s also used as the train arrival melody at Hanshin Railway’s Koshien Station, so it may be a song that brings back memories from school days.
Despite its pop sound, it delivers a powerful message, making it perfect for sports days where parents and children get muddy and sweaty together! It even feels like you could enjoy tug-of-war without straining, just having fun!
100% Courage
It’s a familiar song from the anime Nintama Rantaro.
Different artists have performed it for each generation, but I think many people in their parents’ generation know it too.
Its lively tune and encouraging lyrics make it perfect as background music for things like tug-of-war.
Don’t give upZARD
It’s one of the signature songs by ZARD, the music unit centered around vocalist and lyricist Izumi Sakai.
The lyrics express the title straightforwardly and offer words of encouragement to those striving toward their goal.
While the song is often associated with marathons when paired with sports, its powerful message of support can inspire athletes in any discipline.
It’s a classic that helps you regain your footing when you feel discouraged and summons the courage to keep moving forward.
GOATNumber_i
Number_i’s track delivers a confident message with a powerful, all-rap sound.
Its lyrics, filled with fiery passion and strong self-affirmation, give listeners the courage and energy to take on challenges.
The music video, released in January 2024, surpassed 10 million views in just three days, setting a record as the fastest for a debut song by a male artist in Japan.
With its grand beat and compelling message, this song is perfect as BGM to fire up athletes aiming for victory in a tug-of-war at a school sports day! The high-tempo rhythm will quicken heartbeats and draw out the team’s unity.
The Greatest ShowHugh Jackman, Keala Settle, Zac Efron, Zendaya & The Greatest Showman Ensemble
This song is the theme of the musical film The Greatest Showman.
Even if you haven’t seen the movie, haven’t you heard it often on TV and elsewhere? The opening shouts and stomp-like sounds, the way the excitement builds—it’s great, isn’t it? The marching performance used by Osaka Toin at the National High School Baseball Invitational is famous too.
With its powerful sound, shouts, and distinctive sound effects, it’s weighty and makes you feel strength welling up from your core—perfect BGM for tug-of-war.
Enthralling Dance ~ MizutsuneUraya Reo
Background music from the scene where you hunt Tamamitsune in the game Monster Hunter Generations.
Centered on performances with traditional Japanese instruments, it delivers a grand and brilliant sound.
The game’s premise of challenging a monster in battle also evokes the image of a tug-of-war where teams fight for victory.
It’s perfect for cheering on athletes performing on a stage ablaze with passion.
With warm melodies—like the beat of drums and the tones of flutes—this track energizes heated sports day events.
