Yankee Songs: A Collection of Tracks about Delinquents, Rebels, and Mischief

When you think of “yankees” and “tsuppari” (delinquent youth), a lot of images come to mind—motorbikes, fights, tokkofuku (special long jackets), and more.

From the past to the present, it’s a theme that often appears in dramas, movies, and manga, packed with cool elements like friendship, manly spirit, and clumsy kindness.

In this article, we’ll be introducing plenty of songs themed around these yankees and tsuppari! We’ll be featuring not only Showa-era tracks but also more recent releases.

Now, let’s dive in and start listening!

Playlist

Yankee Songs: A Collection of Tracks about Delinquents, Rebels, and Mischief
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	ff (fortissimo)HOUND DOG		The ultimate cheer song that passionately fires up a man's soul
2	Yankee SoulAKB48		AKB48’s delinquent-gang-style song “Everyday, Kachuusha.”
3	Golden SoulShonan no Kaze		An anthem celebrating the way men live their lives
4	foolKondō Masahiko		A masterpiece that sings of Masahiko Kondo’s loneliness and melancholy
5	Before anything else, from atop the roadIsseifubi Sepia		A sepia-toned, macho, and fervent debut track
6	Yankee rockAKB48		Express passion with raw, hard-hitting rock
7	GLORIAZIGGY		ZIGGY’s classic that captures the restlessness and radiance of youth
8	Monument of SorrowMinamino Yoko		A Drama Theme Song That Tells of a Girl's Loneliness and Resolve
9	Bōsō spiritKishidan		A song of Kishidan’s love for Boso and reunion
10	White Flamesaitou yuki		Saki Asamiya theme song: the melancholy and passion of youth
11	triggerSera Masanori & Tsuisto		Masayuki Sera’s passionate rock hit song
12	Lullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzu		A classic in the 7-5 meter that was a hit for over 40 weeks
13	Say whatever you wantLEX		A hip-hop song that expresses the confidence of youth
14	Seventeen-Year-Old’s MapOzaki Yutaka		Yutaka Ozaki’s “Seventeen’s Map”: a passionate anthem of youthful loneliness
15	Bay Area Sun TribeOginome Yōko		The appeal of iconic, fast-paced songs from the ’80s
16	Wanna DM?t-Ace		A flashy, thrilling song about the push and pull of love
17	I love you, OKYazawa Eikichi		Eikichi Yazawa’s solo debut song, a mature ballad
18	A forty-something who wants to be a DQN and wants to die.Kyūso Nekokami		The appeal of Kyuso Nekokami's song 'DQN'
19	High School Rock ’n’ Roll Pushback: Osaka Cabaret Club Story ArcOsaka Ginbae		A band of Ginbae enthusiasts carries on the legacy and keeps the music alive
20	Showa spiritT.C.R. Yokohama Ginbae R.S.		The allure of rock that celebrates the spirit of the Showa era
21	Delinquent High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going to School Version)Yokohama Ginbae		A classic hit by Yokohama Ginbae, a symbol of tsuppari (delinquent) culture.
22	A Man’s Badge of HonorShima Daisuke		Daisuke Shima’s signature song “Otoko no Kunshō” becomes a big hit
23	One Night CarnivalKishidan		Kishidan’s early signature song, “One Night Carnival”
24	Night of 15Ozaki Yutaka		A classic song that portrays Yutaka Ozaki’s youth and inner struggles
25	Blood In MeAnarchy		A powerful, fighting-spirit-filled rap track by ANARCHY.
26	Kawasaki DriftBAD HOP		The appeal of BAD HOP, a delinquent-style rap group
27	Japanese delinquent (Yankee subculture)Takei Yūki		Yuki Takei’s hip-hop sings about his way of life.
28	Funky Monkey BabyKyaroru		The legendary rock band that Eikichi Yazawa belonged to
29	good-for-nothingTHE BLUE HEARTS		Being a good-for-nothing is a personality too—live as you are.
30	BE-BOP-HIGHSCHOOLNagayama Miho		A classic by Takashi Matsumoto and Kyohei Tsutsumi, an ’80s idol song
31	Bring it onKishidan		A song about a clumsy yet sincere woman who resolves to stake her life on a do-or-die gamble.
32	Shonan GraffitiMomotarō		Momotaro, debuted with Guriwazu (Red Warriors), musical activities
33	A flawless rock ’n’ rollerarajin		Hit songs by Yamaha Music Contest singers
34	Girl ANakamori Akina		The Appeal of Akina Nakamori, an Innovator in the Idol World
35	Don’t underestimate me.Matayoshi & Namenna yo		Bōsōzoku-style characters are popular thanks to the Namennayo (Nameko/Nameneko) craze.
36	Purple Highwayku-ru-su		Cools will go down in music history.
37	The Ten CommandmentsNakamori Akina		The appeal of Akina Nakamori, who sings her own distinctive way
38	Ride On Dreams ~Theme of the Street Racers~Gakuro		A youthful rock song about delinquent biker students
39	Shakotan BoogieCassys		Legendary theme song of the Shakotan movie
40	Be-Bop ParadiseBībāppu Shōnen Shōjo Gasshōdan		A legendary yankii (delinquent) movie from the ’80s!
41	SCHOOL OUTBOØWY		BOØWY’s early sound and musical evolution
42	aphida mu a ki i		Punk rock sings of rebellion against society.
43	PAIN IS BEAUTYchanmina		Expressing the importance of living true to oneself
44	Rock ‘n’ Roll Love Fortune-tellingreisa		A coming-of-age rock song by an ’80s yankī girl
45	Midnight AngelBLACK SATAN		BLACK SATAN, former member(s) of Kureiwaisu
46	Burikko Rock ‘n’ RollG Reivo		The appeal of the junior band of Yokohama Ginbae
47	Shonan BakusozokuSho		Shonan Bakusozoku’s theme song, passionately sung by Ginbae
48	crowONE OK ROCK		A song about the courage to believe in your own path and move forward
49	High-Teen BoogieKondō Masahiko		A signature song by Masahiko Kondo and a movie theme song.
50	One-on-One FantasyKishidan		Kishidan’s new song: hot rock with a provocative edge.
51	Top-speed Rock ‘n’ RollYokohama Ginbae		Yokohama Ginbae’s youthful, full-throttle rock
52	Where the wind goesShodai · Onikazen Jin		Onikaze Blade, the debut song by a member who came from an idol background.
53	drifting lifeIke Reiko		The appeal of Reiko Ike, the queen of girl-gang films in the 1970s
54	Like James DeanJohnny		Yokohama Ginbae guitarist scores a hit with his solo debut song.
55	Let’s dance until morningTachi Hiroshi		Hiroshi Tachi, the leader of Cools, and the allure of his pompadour
56	To the sorrow that has become sullied…Isseifubi Sepia		Theme song of the 'Otokojuku' anime with Spartan-style education
57	JINGI: I will make you love meNagayama Miho		Miho Nakayama’s classic “Seishun Pops”
58	Stop it, Rock ‘n’ Roll!Mikkī		Mickey’s debut song from Detective Yoroshiku
59	You’re blindingly bright.Yabuki Kaoru		Idol-style guitarist, passion for music
60	Leave Saturday night to me.Johnny		Johnny from TCR Yokohama Ginbae RS, solo activity
61	Smokin’ BoogieDaun Taun Bugiugi Bando		A classic three-chord blues song about cigarettes
62	On the Machine (Shō and Momoko’s Rock ’n’ Roll)Sugimoto Tetta & LONELY-RIDERS		Band formation, a cartoonist’s song, fusion with tsuppari (delinquent punk style)
63	Majijo Teppen BluesAKB48		AKB48’s punkish song has an ’80s vibe
64	RememberKazama San Shimai		Theme song of a crime film: the romantic feelings of three sisters
65	Across the agesG Reivo		The band Kuriwisu, with Tetta Sugimoto as the vocalist.
66	Tokyo Survivalmōsōzoku		The raw worldview of biker gangs resonates with me.
67	The man is a clown.Shima Daisuke		Daisuke Shima’s music representing the tsuppari (delinquent/yankii) culture
68	Because / Fall in Love / SuddenlyMihara Junko		Junko Mihara’s multifaceted entertainment career and political life
69	For a secondLEGO BIG MORL		Autobiographical film of a former delinquent-turned-comedian, theme song by LEGO
70	Yankee Boy, Yankee GirlTōma		A song that lives in the moment, with a guitar like a cough
71	Song of the Delinquent Big BrotherKamon Tatsuo		A legendary song that depicts yankii (Japanese delinquent) culture
72	Manga HANKHO-KI!SHINSUKE-BAND		The debut song of Shinsuke’s rebel manzai band
73	You look sad.asuka gumi		Singing about the bittersweet maiden’s heart of yankee youth
74	Midnight Drivin’Cherībōizu		History and influence of the rock band Cherry Boys
75	Badass☆Yankee RoadBOYSANDMEN		A refreshing, rousing cheer song brimming with Showa-era manly spirit
76	whoosh whooshgedō		Gaidō: wildly popular with biker gangs for its Japanese-style rock
77	Yankee SpiritHirano Sho, Jinguji Yuta (King & Prince)		A passionate friendship song from Showa-era delinquent culture