MarketFlow (Japanese band)
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Flow (Japanese band)

Flow is a Japanese rock band formed in 1998 as a five-piece band made up of two vocalists, a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer. They are signed to Sacra Music. As of November 2023, the band has released 40 singles and 12 studio albums. Their songs have been featured in the opening sequences of several anime and Japanese drama series.

History
1993–2003: Formation and major label debut The group began in 1993 when brothers Kōshi (elder: vocals, rhythm guitar) and Take (younger: lead guitar) began playing together. In 2001, the band released its first maxi single, Flow #0. In 2002, the group released two mini-albums within the same year, followed by "Okuru Kotoba", Flow's first cover single, released in January 2003, which remained on the Oricon indie chart for seven consecutive weeks and also hit No. 6 on the overall singles chart. In the spring of that year, their first full-scale album Splash!!! debuted at No. 2 on the Oricon album chart. In July 2003, Flow released the single "Blaster" on the major label Ki/oon Records. 2004–2007: "Go!!!", Naruto, and Code Geass In April 2004, they released "Go!!!", which stayed on the Oricon Top 10 Chart for three weeks. In May 2004, Flow released their first major label album Game. A string of singles followed and in July 2005 the band released its third album, Golden Coast. After the release of Golden Coast, Flow released two A-side singles, including the double A-side "Around The World / Kandata". The songs "Go!!!" and "Re:member" both served as opening themes to the anime series Naruto, as well as "Sign" for Naruto Shippuden. "Days" was the first opening for Bones' Eureka Seven anime, and "Realize" was the opening for the PlayStation 2 video games based on the same series. Flow performed live in the United States for the first time in Dallas, Texas, on September 2, 2006, at AnimeFest in Dallas. Flow then released "Colors" in 2006, the first opening for Sunrise's original series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. Their song "Answer" was the first opening theme for the live action Japanese drama Detective School Q. They performed "Night Parade" with the hip-hop band Home Made Kazoku. 2008–2012: Persona, Heroman, anime convention appearances In February 2008, they released the single "Arigatō", followed by Persona -trinity soul-s opening theme, "Word of the Voice" in June 2008. They performed Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2's second opening theme "World End" released in 2008. In 2009, the band performed "Sign", the sixth opening for Naruto Shippuden. Flow returned to North America to perform at Anime Central, in Rosemont, Illinois on May 20, 2011, and FanimeCon in San Jose, California on May 28, 2010 and in May 2011. Their song "Hey!!!" was the third opening theme for the anime Beelzebub, and the song "Brave Blue" was used as the second opening theme for the anime Eureka Seven AO. In 2012, they performed in France for the first time at Japan Expo. 2013–2019: Flow Anime Best and first world tour They provided a cover of "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" as the main theme song for the film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods; the song, coupled with an insert song from the film, was released as a double A-side single on March 20, 2013, and subsequently would be featured as the opening theme for Dragon Ball video games such as Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z and Dragon Ball XenoVerse. Flow released their eighth studio album Flow The Max!!! on March 27, 2013. Flow went to Brazil for the first time to perform at Ressacca Friends in 2013. Their single "Ai Ai Ai ni Utarete Bye Bye Bye" released on February 26, 2014 was used as the second opening to the anime Samurai Flamenco. Flow returned to Brazil in the summer of 2014 to perform at Anime Friends in Sao Paulo and at SuperCon in Recife. They returned to perform at AnimeFest after 8 years in August 2014 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. Their single, "7 -seven-", was a collaboration with the band Granrodeo and was featured as the ending theme to the anime The Seven Deadly Sins. Flow released their second anime best album compilation Flow Anime Best Kiwami on February 25, 2015. Flow's first-ever world tour, Flow World Tour 2015 Kiwami, saw them performing five times in Japan and fourteen times in seven other countries. Their first digital single, , was released on March 21, 2015 and was used as the image song for the Naruto stage play Live Spectacle Naruto. Their single was used as the 34th ending theme of Naruto Shippuden. Their single "Steppin' out" was used as the opening theme of Durarara!!x2: Ketsu. Flow's single / Burn" was released on August 24, 2016; the songs are used as the opening themes of Tales of Zestiria the X and Tales of Berseria. Their single "Innosense" was released on February 8, 2017; the song was used as the second ending theme of Tales of Zestiria the X. The band covered "Classic" on the album Tribute of Mucc -en- as a tribute to the band Mucc released on November 22, 2017. Flow returned to North America to perform at Anime Boston on March 30, 2018. They covered "D.O.D. (Drink Or Die)" for the June 6, 2018 hide tribute album Tribute Impulse. They also performed the theme song for the drama series Sachiiro no One Room. Their song "Break it down" was used in the 2020 game Naruto x Boruto Ninja Tribes. Flow again performed at the Nippon Budokan on January 30, 2019. They released their album Tribalythm on April 10, 2019 and their tour Flow Live Tour 2019: Tribalythm promoted the album. 2020–2022: Online concerts, collaborations Flow performed Flow Chokaigi 2020 Anime Shibari Returns at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall on February 24, 2020. They covered Granrodeo's "Modern Strange Cowboy" on the album Granrodeo Tribute Album "Rodeo Freak" released on May 13, 2020. Flow's song was used for opening theme of the 2020 anime series Shadowverse. They held a special online concert series featuring all 11 of their albums titled Flow Special Online Live Comprehensive Album Series: Flame of 12 Months every 26 of the month, which started on September 26, 2020 and ended on August 26, 2021. The band produced for the virtual YouTuber agency Nijisanji, which celebrated their 3rd anniversary in 2021. Their single "United Sparrows" was used for the ending theme of the 2021 anime series Back Arrow. On August 9, 2021, they held their first in-person concert since the COVID-19 pandemic titled Flow The Carnival 2021 ~Shinsekai~ in Line Cube Shibuya. The single "Dice" was released on December 15, 2021, and contained three collaboration songs. "Dice" was used for the first opening theme song of the 15th anniversary rebroadcast of the 2006 anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. was featured in the slot machine game Pachislot Anemone: Eureka Seven HI-Evolution. was a partnership between Flow and Afterglow from the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! mobile rhythm game. The two parties also collaborated for a cover of "Colors", which is a playable song in Girls Band Party!; "Yūshō" was also added to the game for a limited time from December 11, 2021 to January 10, 2022. Two songs from the single "Gold" were used in the Naruto franchise. was used as the image song for the stage play Live Spectacle "Naruto" ~Uzumaki Naruto Monogatari~, while "Gold" used as the tenth opening theme song for the anime Boruto: Naruto Next Generation in January 2022. The single titled " was a collaboration with the band Orange Range and was used for the second opening theme of 15th Anniversary re-run of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 anime. The single also includes a cover of Orange Range's "O2". 2023–present: 20th anniversary, Flow World Tour Anime Shibari For their 20th anniversary, Flow performed the Flow World Tour Anime Shibari 2024-2025, in which they performed only their anime songs. The tour took the band to Australia, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and North America. In October 2025, Flow launched an American and European tour in which they will perform only Naruto and Boruto songs, called Flow World Tour 2025 Naruto The Rock. ==Members==
Members
;Kohshi • Position: Vocalist, Rapping, Rhythm Guitarist • Real name: Kōshi Asakawa • Birthday: April 22, 1977 • Birthplace: Saitama • Leader years: 2014, 2017, 2020 ;Keigo • Position: Vocalist, Rapping, Harmonica • Real name: Keigo Hayashi • Birthday: July 1, 1977 • Birthplace: Tokyo • Leader years: 2011, 2018 ;Take • Position: Lead Guitarist, Backing Vocalist, Programing, Keyboards, DJ • Real name: Takeshi Asakawa • Birthday: August 31, 1978 • Birthplace: Saitama • Leader years: 1998-2007, June-December 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2024, 2026 ;Got's • Position: Bassist, Backing Vocalist, Chorus • Real name: Kohtaro Gotō • Birthday: January 26, 1977 • Birthplace: Niigata • Leader years: 2010, 2013, 2023, 2025 ;Iwasaki • Position: Drummer, Backing Vocalist, Percussion, Sampling • Real Name: Hiroshi Iwasaki • Birthday: November 21, 1969 • Birth Place: Osaka • Leader years: 2008, January-May 2009, 2019, 2021, 2022 ;Touring members • Haruna Miyoshi - Bass • Masami Endo - Bass • Jinichiro Hori - Keyboards • Mai Tanizaki - Violin • Majikun - Keyboards • Tsubasa - Percussion • Isamu Takita - Bass • Yuta Tsujimura - Bass ==Discography==
Discography
Albums Studio albums Extended plays Compilation albums Singles Indie singles Digital singles Demos Videos DVDs & Blu-rays Fanclub-limited DVDs & Blu-rays Others Compilations Guest appearances Credited work Covers ==Tours==
Tours
Solo concerts • Hatsu One-man Live: Attack 26 (2002) • Flow The Party: Attack 27 (2002) • Nissan X-trail presents: Flow Free Live in Yuigahama (2003) • Flow The Carnival Nishi no Jin (2004) • Flow The Carnival Higashi no Jin (2004) • Flow The Carnival 2005 in Hibiya Yagai Ongakudō (2005) • 26ers 1st Anniversary Special Party!!! Kureba Wakarusa! Arigatō!!! (2005) • Flow The Carnival 2006: Kaimakusen (2006) • Flow The Carnival 2008: Rakuensai (2008) ::Guest: Azumi from Wyolica • Flow The Carnival 2009: Nuts Bang!!! (2009) • Flow Request Super Live (2010) • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 1: Yomigaeru Indie Special Night (2011) • Flow Chikichiki Senjō no Merry Christmas (2011) • Totsunyū The Max!!!: Zen Kyoku Mōra Honō no 5-days @ Shibuya O-nest (2012) ::Guests: Azumi and Home Made Kazoku during the "Ailu The Max!!!" gig. • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 2: Cover The Max!!! (2012) • Flow Count Down Live 2012-2013: Toshikoshi The Max!!! (2012) • 26ers NaNaNa Night: Flow vs. Got's with Flow (2013) • Flow The Carnival 2014: All-Star Game (2014) • 26ers NaNaNa Night Dream Match: Anata no Yume ō Kanaemasu (2014) • Dansei Gentei Live: Otoko-Flow (2015) • Josei Gentei Live: Onna-Flow (2015) • Flow The Carnival 2015 Daikanshasai (2015) ::Guest: Futoshi from Kiba of Akiba • 26ers NaNaNa Night: Natsu Matsuri no Jin (2016) • Flow Count Down Live 2016-2017: Toki no Jin (2016) • Dansei Gentei Live 2017: Otoko-Flow (2017) • Josei Gentei Live 2017: Onna-Flow (2017) • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 7: 26ers ni Yoru 26ers no Tame no 26ers All Time Best Live (2017) • Flow The Carnival 2017: Anime Shibari (2017) • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 8: Anime Igai Shibari (2018) • Flow Live Best 2019 in Nippon Budokan: Kami Matsuri (2019) ::Guest: Granrodeo, Real Akiba Boyz, Ginyuforce • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 9 (2019) • Flow Chōkaigi 2020: Anime Shibari Returns (2020) ::Guests: Ginyuforce and Real Akiba Boyz • Flow The Carnival 2021: Shinsekai (2021) ::Guests: Yuriage Daiko, Yoh Ueno, Ru • Flow 20th Anniversary Special Live 2023: Anime Shibari Festival (2023) ::Guests: Ayane Sakura (as Ran Mitake), Granrodeo, Hironobu Kageyama, Orange Range, Jun Fukuyama, Kaori Nazuka, Yuko Sanpei, Real Akiba Boyz, Fly-N • 26ers 20th Anniversary Special Party!!! Kureba Wakarusa! Arigatō!!! (2023) ::Bass performed by Haruna Miyoshi, as substitution for Got's. • Anime Shibari Standing (2023) • Flow The Carnival 2023: Naruto Shibari (2023) ::Guest: Diana Garnet • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 11: Honō no 12-kagetsu Offline: Splash!!! Hen (2024) • Flow at Billboard Live Osaka (2025) ::Supporting members: Hori Junichiro as keyboardist, Mai Tanizaki as violinist, Majikun as saxophonist and Tsubasa as percussionist. • Flow at Billboard Live Yokohama (2025) ::Supporting members: Hori Junichiro as keyboardist, Mai Tanizaki as violinist, Majikun as saxophonist and Tsubasa as percussionist. • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 12: Honō no 12-kagetsu Offline: Game Hen (2025) Solo tours • Tope con Giro (2003) • Tope Suicida (2004) • Flow Limited Circuit Kita no Jin (2004) • Flow Limited Circuit Minami no Jin (2004) • All You Need Is Live!!!: Jōnetsu no Jiyūseki ☆ Miwaku no Shiteiseki (2004) • The Sound Of Golden Coast (2005) • Kizuna Factory (2006) • Ailu (2007-2008) ::Guest: Home Made Kazoku, during the fourth leg final gig in Tokyo. • 5 (2009) • Sign (2009-2010) • Microcosm (2010) ::Guest: Home Made Kazoku, during the final gig in Tokyo. • On The Line (2011) • Black & White (2012) • Tour The Max!!!: Last Max!!! (2013) • Tour The Max!!!: Max!!! no Mukō Gawa (2013) • 26 a Go Go!!!: Gekitō Pennant Race (2014) • Kiwami (2015) ::Guests: Ryou Sakai Project as an opening act for the Lima, Peru leg; Joe Inoue during the appearance at SANA in Fortaleza, Brazil; Diana Garnet and Granrodeo during the final leg in Tokyo. • 10 (2016) ::Guests: Afra and Hayate during the final leg in Tokyo. • Flow Limited Circuit 2016: Kaze no Jin (2016) • Flow Limited Circuit 2016: Honō no Jin (2016) • Flow Limited Circuit 2016: Chūnanbei no Jin (2016) • We are still Fighting Dreamers (2017) • Howling (2018) ::A tour by Flow×Granrodeo as one unit. • Anime Shibari (2018) ::Guest: Hiroshi Kitadani during the final leg in Tokyo. • Anime Shibari -Latin America Tour- (2018) • Tribalythm (2019) • The Die Is Cast (2022) • Flow World Tour 2022 (2022) • Voy☆☆☆ (2023) ::Guest: Koji Yamaguchi during the Nagoya leg. • Anime Shibari (2024-2025) ::Guest: Yasuharu Takanashi, during the final of the Japan leg in Tokyo. • Naruto The Rock (2025) • All Time 26: 26 Kyoku Live (2026) • Naruto The Rock (2026) Online concerts • 26ers NaNaNa Night Vol. 10 Online: Fun Time Delivery Night (2020) • Anime Shibari Online (2020) • Flow Special Online Live Zen Album Mōra Honō no 12-kagetsu (2020-2021) ::Guests: Azumi during the "Ailu" stream; Ginyuforce during the "26 a Go Go!!!" stream; Afra during the "#10" stream. Battle of the bands gigs • "Flow {Flow #0}" Reko Hatsu Live: Atsui Munasawagi (2001) ::Guests: Gari, H, Panic or Reset • Syakariki & Herts presents: FLOW Reko Hatsu Live (2001) ::Guests: Cand Yards Jack Jam, Dekorap Crew, Dustbox, Head Phones President, Muratrix, Oyster Bed, Robin Mask • Flow The Party: Attack 28 (2002) ::Guests: Rottengraffty, Source • Flow The Party: Attack 29 (2002) ::Guests: Full Monty, Landscape • Flow The Party: Attack 30 (2002) ::Guests: Possibility, Source • Flow The Party: Winter Collection (2003) ::Guests: 2BL, Dustbox • Flow The Party Tour (2003) ::Guests: Back Dommest, Bakuretsu Haze, Duo Hoop, Kotobuki, Side Line, Yamatosei Geronimo & Love Guerrilla Experience, Almighty Bomb Jack, Chubu Track, Masa Band, Over Limit, #18, Marsas Sound Machine, Orange Range, Ska Shippe • Flow The Party 2010 ::Guests: Possibility, Snail Ramp, Rottengraffty, Uzumaki, Glory Jackpot System, Hundred Percent Free • Flow The Party 2011 ::Guests: 2gMonkeyz, A.F.R.O, Piko, The Yatō, Spyair, Totalfat, The Kanmuri, Sadie • Flow The Party 2012: Taiban The Max!!! ::Guests: Kanojo in the Display, Sowlkve, Ao, Home Made Kazoku, Aqua Timez, Brand New Vibe, Flip, Three Lights Down Kings, Orange Range, Scandal • Act Against AIDS 2013 in Sendai ::Guests: Does, Yuriage Daiko • Flow The Party 2013 ::Guests: Granrodeo, Home Made Kazoku, Rookiez Is Punk'd, Cinema Staff, Huwie Ishizaki, Duff • Flow The Party 2014 ::Guests: A.F.R.O, Selfarm, Funkist, Six of Sprites, Back-On, Solid Red Style, Mucc, Oto×Air, Granrodeo, The Challenge • Act Against AIDS 2014 in Sendai ::Guests: Lisa, Yuriage Daikō • Act Against AIDS 2015 in Sendai ::Guests: Back-On, Yuriage Daiko • Act Against AIDS 2016 in Sendai ::Guests: Sambomaster, Yuriage Daiko • Act Against AIDS 2017 in Sendai ::Guests: Fhána, Yuriage Daiko • Flow The Party 2018 ::Guests: Totalfat, Anger Jully The Sun, Knock Out Monkey, Leetspeak Monsters, Xmas Eileen, Solomon, Ren, Everlong, Rottengraffty, Innosent in Formal, The Bonez, Ros • “Howling” in Taiwan (2018) ::In addition to featuring Flow×Granrodeo's performances as a unit, it also featured individual performances from both bands. • Act Against AIDS 2018 in Sendai ::Guests: Garnidelia, Yuriage Daiko • Act Against AIDS 2019 in Sendai ::Guests: Eir Aoi, Yuriage Daiko • Flow 2man Tour 2019-2020: VS Next Generation ::Guests: Uso to Chameleon, Brian the Sun, Bentham, Novelbright, Luck Life, Spark!!Sound!!Show!!, The Boys&Girls, My Hair is Bad, She's, Oisicle Melonpan • Flow The Party 2024 ::Guests: Frederic, Spark!!Sound!!Show!!, Survive Said The Prophet, Ash Da Hero, Nobodyknows, Who-ya Extended, Su-xing-cyu, Uchikubi Gokumon Dōkōkai, Does, Luck Life Self-organized festival Flow The Festival • 2024 ::It was held on July 29 and 30 in Pia Arena MM. ::Performers: Flow, Granrodeo, Kana-Boon, Keytalk, Masayoshi Oishi, Spyair, From Argonavis Special Band, Real Akiba Boyz, DJ Pierre Nakano, Back-On, Burnout Syndromes, Creepy Nuts, JAM Project, Orange Range, Scandal, Rookiez Is Punk'd, O-Menz, DJ Caesar, Chico • 2025 ::It was held on July 14 and 15 in Pia Arena MM. ::Performers: Flow, Argonavis, Does, ReoNa, Sambomaster, Sukima Switch, Yasuharu Takanashi & Yaiba, Madkid, DJ Kevin Mitsunaga, Akira Kushida, Ayaka Ohashi, Back-On, Blue Encount, Flumpool, Granrodeo OxT, Spira Spica, Real Akiba Boyz, DJ Kazu, Hisashi, Jun Fukuyama, Micro & Kuro from Home Made Kazoku, Ash • 2025 (Shanghai, China) ::It was held on September 26 and 27 in Phase Live House. ::Perfomers: Flow, Blue Encount, Does, DJ Caesar • 2026 :: Scheduled to be held on July 6 and 7 in Pia Arena MM. ::Performers: Flow, Granrodeo, Home Made Kazoku, Raise A Suilen, Survive Said The Prophet, Uchikubi Gokumon Dōkōkai, SunSet Swish, I.N.A & Kiyoshi from hide with Spread Beaver, DJ Koo, Project Leap!, 9mm Parabellum Bullet, Angela, Chico with HoneyWorks, Frederic, Orange Range, Real Akiba Boyz & Real Akiba Band feat. Spira Spica, Arika Takarano, Fly-N, Takuma Terashima, DJ Meguchee, Anatashia • 2026 (Mexico City, Mexico) ::Performers: Flow, Does, DJ Take ==References==
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