[WBC] Relive that excitement! A comprehensive roundup of theme songs, cheer songs, and walk-up music [2026]

gentianWANIMA

WANIMA "Rindou" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

This is a rock ballad by the Kumamoto-born trio WANIMA—quiet yet powerfully prayerful.

KENTA’s straightforward vocals really grab your heart, don’t they? The song is included on the album COMINATCHA!!, released in October 2019.

Many people may have heard it as an insert song in the drama Namba MG5.

During the 2023 WBC, it was also used as the walk-up song for Munetaka Murakami, who is likewise from Kumamoto.

A song that stands beside those who carry loneliness or anxiety, it became a powerful push forward.

When you’re going through something tough, this will surely be a track that gives you the courage to keep moving.

Tracks of HopeSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars – Tracks of Hope [Live at ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL, 2018]

A pop-rock number by Southern All Stars that bursts with a sense of speed from its piano solo intro.

It was also used as the walk-up song for Kazuma Okamoto, who starred as a key slugger for Samurai Japan in the 2023 WBC.

The lyrics, which sing of hope for tomorrow seen from a train window heading toward the future while carrying past memories and bittersweet feelings, seem to mirror the resolve of an athlete bearing their hometown as they take on the world.

The track appears as an insert song in the film Inamura Jane, directed by Keisuke Kuwata and released in September 1990, and is included on the classic album Inamura Jane.

It’s also a great pick for anyone who wants to fire themselves up in crucial moments!

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)GReeeeN

GReeeeN – Michi (Road/Path)

There are times at life’s turning points when you’re unsure which path to take.

GReeeeN’s major-label debut single, released in January 2007, is a rousing anthem that gives you a powerful push forward in those moments.

In addition to being used as the theme for TBS’s “CDTV,” the song also has strong ties to baseball; it’s known for being Yu Darvish’s walk-up song when he led the team during the 2023 WBC.

If you’re striving toward a goal but find yourself frozen by anxiety, this is the one song you should listen to.

Something (Producer’s Acoustic Version)wakadanna

Young Master - Something (Producer’s Acoustic Version).wmv

It’s an uplifting anthem whose straightforward message—if you have even one thing you can be passionate about, you’ll be okay—really strikes a chord.

It’s an acoustic reinterpretation of a track produced by Wakadanna, a member of Shonan no Kaze, and is included on his solo album “Anata no Egao wa Sekai de Ichiban Utsukushii,” released in November 2011.

This version was used as Masataka Yoshida’s walk-up song in the 2023 WBC, moving many people.

It’s a song that powerfully pushes the backs of those who feel like giving up or can’t take that final step forward.

Like this tonightaimyon

Aimyon – Stay Like This Tonight [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A work released by Aimyon in November 2018 is perfect for those moments when the night grows quiet and you want to gently calm your mind.

Written as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “We Cannot Become Beasts,” the track portrays the pent-up emotions and loneliness of people living in the city.

It also drew attention as a song that stands by athletes facing high-stakes moments, after being chosen as Roki Sasaki’s walk-up music during the 2023 WBC.

Whether you’re feeling the tension before a big challenge or spending a night alone with your thoughts, listening to it can gradually ease your mind.