25+ ONE OK ROCK Songs to Encourage & Motivate You

One OK Rock has been my favourite Jrock band for about 10 years now. They have a sound that you just never get tired of. Taka with his amazing and versatile vocals, the band’s rock and punk energy, and meaningful and encouraging lyrics is just the perfect combination.

While I know they have changed to a more internationally friendly pop sound, they still write inspiring lyrics that makes you want to stand up for what’s right, chase after your dreams, and be true to yourself. If anything, it’s interesting seeing how they’ve changed since this is what they wanted initially, and it’s amazing to see a Japanese band make it overseas. Taka’s English continues to improve (I’ve been singing the wrong lyrics for some songs until I looked it up), and their fanbase keeps growing.

If you’re looking for inspirational and motivational songs when facing adversity and chasing your dreams, definitely add these to your playlist!

Oh! I almost forgot! One OK Rock just released their documentary “Flip A Coin” on Netflix, so be sure to check it out if you enjoy these songs ^_^ I also did an album and concert review for their Luxury Disease release and tour, so feel free to check that out!

If you’re interested in other bands, definitely check out My Blog and My Japanese Music Resources Page. I have lots of articles and lists to help you find more Japanese music and to understand it better!

Note: For Japanese lyrics, I grabbed their English translations from LyricsTranslate.com

We Are

“Never tell yourself
You should be someone else
Stand up tall and say
I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid”

Kanzen Kankoku Dreamer

“Yeah when I’m caught in fire
When I rise up higher
Do you see me out there
Waiting for the next chance we get”

Juvenile

“Don’t be shy whenever you want something
What you waiting for?
Find your door
Gotta hold your own and stay don’t run away
When you show (will to live there’s no way you)
Will lose it after finding that “anything”
‘Cause life is full of points you score
You’ll see, brighter days coming
All the nights becoming day
On your mark!!”

Stand Out Fit In

“I am who I am
No matter what
Never changing
No matter what”

Wasted Nights

“Don’t be afraid to dive
Be afraid that you didn’t try
These moments remind us why
We’re here, we’re so alive”

Change

“Hey! You know it’s not too late for us to make a change
You gotta listen to your heart what does it say?
No matter how much we might bend, we will not break
‘Cause we got what it takes to stay”

Fight The Night

“We’ll fight fight till there’s nothing left to say
(Whatever it takes)
We’ll fight fight till your fears, they go away
The light is gone and we know once more
We’ll fight fight till we see another day”

Jibun Rock

Translated:
“Now, collect and store the important things on your own.
Is it really like that? Not yet, not yet! There’s still time!
For now, sharpen your foresight. Protagonist is just one person!
The start of your own story!”

Head High

“Yeah, they tried to stop me
But it was too late
Oh, there’s no interfering my fate”

“With my head high
Make a stand with my head high
I’m not afraid to love, I’m not afraid to try, I’m not afraid to fly
With my head high”

Push Back

“It’s like they’re holding their gun to our heads
They’re tryin’ to tell us what to think
We’re stuck on the edge
So go ahead and push us
We’ll get up and push back
Push back”

Keep It Real

Let’s Take It Someday

“And I take every moment to reach for another day
I always want to be in the world
Won’t someone tell me about what is not today?
Day by day, Make my day
Let’s take it someday”

One By One

“Kept down so long
Sick of living in the middle
If you stand for nothing
You’ll fall for anything
Our time is now
We won’t stand down
Wake up scream out
We are the chosen ones”

69

Translated
“It may not be so simple to change something in these not-so-long lives of ours
But since we were born into this time, it’s important that we destroy something and build anew
Before someone goes and destroys that something, though, making progress forward is crucial
I’m not so good at studying, and it’s not like I have any idea of how to behave myself properly
The only claims I can make are that I believe in myself more than anyone else”

Giants

“So, now we’re standing on the edge
Our backs against the wall
A penthouse view on our own two
And now we’re standing tall
We can be giants, giants
‘Cause every one of us has always been enough”

Decisions

“I wanna be all that I can be
I want to see the light and to live for me
So I I’m gonna seize the day
Please don’t forget my name
We’ll never be as young as we are now”

Eye of the Storm

“Drowning in the water
Against the current
I can barely hold on
But one thing that I remember
It’s always darkest before the dawn”

Jaded

“Don’t wait for your life
The time is right
Don’t wait for your life
Sometimes gotta try
Gotta fight for what you want
Don’t wait for you life, for your life”

In The Stars

“I wasn’t born to follow
So I took the lead
I didn’t lose the dream
Forget about tomorrow
Bring it on tonight
The sky’s burning bright”

Renegades

“For all of the times that they say it’s impossible
They built all the hurdles, the walls, and the obstacles
When we’re together, you know we’re unstoppable now
I’m not afraid to tear it down and build it up again
It’s not our fate, we could be the renegades”

Unforgettable

“I’m in control of the fire ’cause I hold the matches
Some of the best things in life are born from the ashes”

San San Boshi

“Just search it, don’t wait for the way
Don’t give in, keep trying to look for the light
If I can make my step, shine will come
It’s like a spotlight on the stage at last
Chance will come for everyone
Please don’t think you are lost and you’re alone
There is somebody watching you
Don’t be afraid to overcome yourself, yeah”

Hitsuen Maker

“Try to make it now
I don’t want any more regret, regret’
Cause time’s never back”

Yume Yume

Translated
“There’s no point in hurrying if right now is impossible
But we’ve got awesome power, so take it and go!
You don’t have the courage to walk with that invisible fear, do you?
If that’s the case, we’ll turn into light so go ahead and shine!
Go ahead and shine!
Please don’t say expressions like “This is all I am”
Not yet! Not yet! We have no idea what we have to try and do! No idea!”

Adult Suit

Translated:
“I feel this moment
No one can take it
That’s right, there are so many chances,
But if you do not catch it, there’s no sense in your life! 
Today right now this moment is important!
Don’t let anyone take your privilege away!”

Prove

“One step at a time
No matter how long it takes
I will make the climb
Learn from the mistakes I’ve made
And I’ll prove it to you, prove without a doubt
Give me the one chance the one chance
So I can so I can prove to you”

Renegades

“I’m not afraid
To tear it down and build it up again
It’s not our fate
We could be the renegades
I’m here for you, ooh
Are you here for me too?
Let’s start again
We could be the renegades”

Conclusion

If you enjoyed this list and found some new songs to add to your playlist, or even a new band you want to follow, be sure to subscribe! Also let me know if there’s another Japanese band I should make a list like this for!

And if you’re interested in learning more vocabulary and kanji so you can watch anime and dramas, read manga, sing J-pop at karaoke, or play raw Japanese video games, check out my 250+ Kanji for Japanese Media (+Sentences) article and my Japanese Study Guide!