Flow (Japanese band)

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. They formed Flow in 1998, and by 2000, were joined by Keigo (vocals), Gotō (bass) and Iwasaki (drums). 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. The band released a B-side compilation album on November 4, 2009. Their single "Calling" was featured as the ending for the anime Heroman. 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, "Hikari Oikakete", was released on March 21, 2015 and was used as the image song for the Naruto stage play Live Spectacle Naruto. Their single "Niji no Sora" 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 "Kaze no Uta / 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 "Neiro" 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 "Shinsekai" 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 "Nijīro no Puddle" 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. "Moment" was featured in the slot machine game Pachislot Anemone: Eureka Seven HI-Evolution. "Yūshou" 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. "Tomoshibi" 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 "Daydream Believer"" 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

;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

;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 (2023, during concerts held in August; 2025, Freedom Nagoya, Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Nagano Aniera Festa)
• Masami Endo - Bass (2023, Naruto The Live)
• Jinichiro Hori - Keyboards (2025, Billboard Live)
• Mai Tanizaki - Violin (2025, Billboard Live)
• Majikun - Keyboards (2025, Billboard Live)
• Tsubasa - Percussion (2025, Billboard Live)
• Isamu Takita - Bass (2025, Flow The Festival, Anime Expo, Sammy's New Horizon Fest)
• Yuta Tsujimura - Bass (2025, Flow The Festival in Shanghai)

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

References

References

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2. Eremenko, Alexey. "Flow {{!}} Biography & History". [[AllMusic]].
3. "Flow Biography". JpopAsia.
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6. Asperilla, Lawrence. (June 30, 2015). "An Interview with Japanese Rock Band FLOW". Nihongogo.
7. "''Game'' {{!}} Flow". [[Oricon]].
8. "Go!!! {{!}} Flow". [[Oricon]].
9. "Re:member {{!}} Flow". [[Oricon]].
10. (November 15, 2009). "FLOW新作シングルは「NARUTO」を励ますロックチューン".
11. "Days {{!}} Flow". [[Oricon]].
12. (July 25, 2006). "AnimeFest announces music guest of honor".
13. "Colors {{!}} Flow". [[Oricon]].
14. link. (January 9, 2008)
15. (May 28, 2007). "[FLOW] 5周年記念の新曲は初ドラマ主題歌".
16. (October 8, 2007). "FLOW × HOME MADE 家族 ＝ 無限大の可能性".
17. (March 24, 2018). "「コードギアス 皇道」OPテーマは「WORLD END」、キービジュアル完成".
18. (March 8, 2010). "FLOWがテレビ東京系アニメ「HEROMAN」のエンディング・テーマ"CALLING"を5月12日にリリース!".
19. Loo, Egan. (April 23, 2011). "Flow to Perform at Anime Central and FanimeCon".
20. (June 6, 2011). "FLOWの新曲がアニメ「べるぜバブ」主題歌に起用".
21. (June 21, 2012). "「エウレカAO」新テーマはFLOW、新人5人組joyが担当".
22. Green, Scott. (December 12, 2012). "Flow to Cover "Cha-La-Head-Cha-La" for Dragon Ball Anime Movie".
23. "FLOW announces new single + album + nationwide tour". Tokyohive.
24. link. [[Oricon]]
25. (March 7, 2014). "FLOW to perform at AnimeFest 2014". [[Anime News Network]].
26. (September 21, 2014). "The Seven Deadly Sins Anime's New TV Spot Previews FLOW, GRANRODEO Song". [[Anime News Network]].
27. (March 16, 2015). "FLOW announce their first World Tour in 8 Countries - 'FLOW WORLD TOUR 2015 KIWAMI'". Tokyohive.
28. (February 28, 2015). "FLOW、舞台版ナルトにイメージソング「光追いかけて」提供".
29. (June 4, 2015). "FLOW to Perform New Ending Theme for Naruto Shippūden Anime". [[Anime News Network]].
30. (December 22, 2015). "Durarara!!×2 Ketsu Anime's Ad Previews FLOW Theme Song, January 9 Premiere". [[Anime News Network]].
31. (December 13, 2017). "Anime Boston Hosts Rock Band FLOW". [[Anime News Network]].
32. (April 14, 2018). "hide最新トリビュート盤にHISASHI × YOW-ROW、西川貴教、MIYAVI、GRANRODEOら". Barks Japan.
33. Pineda, Rafael Antonio. (June 18, 2018). "FLOW Performs Theme Song for Live-Action 'Sachiiro no One Room' Series". Anime News Network.
34. (February 10, 2020). "GRANRODEO Tribute Album "RODEO FREAK" 発売決定！ROUND GR 2020 開催日決定！". Bandai Namco Arts.
35. "新主題歌情報解禁！｜NEWS｜TVアニメ「シャドウバース」公式サイト".
36. "【ライブレポ連載】Flow Special Online Live 全アルバム網羅 炎の12ヶ月".
37. (March 27, 2021). "東京MXほかにて放送中のTVアニメ『バック・アロウ』新シリーズEDテーマに新曲「United Sparrows」が決定!!!". Flow.
38. "【ライブレポート】Flow、久々の有観客ライブ"Flow the Carnival 2021 ～新世界～"で見せた渾身のステージ".
39. (November 30, 2021). "スマートフォン向けゲーム「バンドリ！ ガールズバンドパーティ！」、 「Afterglow × FLOW」の『COLORS』が12月11日(土)より登場！ 12月下旬には「Pastel＊Palettes × ClariS」の『ヒトリゴト』追加決定！ 〜Roseliaメンバーがクリスマス衣装で登場するドリフェスガチャ開催情報も！〜". Craft Egg.
40. "FLOW WORLD TOUR ”ANIME SHIBARI 2024-2025”".
41. "FLOW WORLD TOUR 2025 “NARUTO THE ROCK”".
42. "Flow's Biography". Flow.
43. "FLOWのアルバム売上ランキング". [[Oricon]].
44. (July 2003). "Gold Disc Certification 2003". [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]].
45. (May 2004). "Gold Disc Certification 2004". [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]].
46. "SUNSHINE 60".
47. "Like a Rolling Snow".
48. (December 2006). "Gold Disc Certification 2006". [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]].
49. "FLOWのシングル売上ランキング". [[Oricon]].
50. "Flow {{!}} Billboard Chart History". [[Billboard (magazine).
51. (June 16, 2008). "Billboard Japan Hot 100 {{!}} Charts". [[Billboard Japan]].
52. (August 25, 2008). "Billboard Japan Hot 100 {{!}} Charts". Billboard Japan.
53. (January 25, 2010). "Billboard Japan Hot 100 {{!}} Charts". Billboard Japan.
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55. (December 6, 2010). "Billboard Japan Hot 100 {{!}} Charts". Billboard Japan.
56. (September 22, 2012). "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". [[Billboard (magazine).
57. (August 10, 2012). "FLOW – "Brave Blue" – updated release details, opening theme anime ''Eureka Seven AO''". Comtrya.
58. (April 6, 2013). "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". [[Billboard (magazine).
59. (March 15, 2014). "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". [[Billboard (magazine).
60. (December 13, 2014). "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". [[Billboard (magazine).
61. (February 6, 2016). "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". [[Billboard (magazine).
62. (February 3, 2018). "Japanese Music: Top Japanese Songs Chart". [[Billboard (magazine).
63. (6 October 2020). "FLOW、TVアニメ『シャドウバース』OPテーマの新曲「新世界」を先行配信リリース {{!}} OKMusic".
64. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya1nzDnzJdc
65. https://web.archive.org/web/20010723101227/http://flow5p.hoops.ne.jp:80/
66. https://web.archive.org/web/20011029140728/http://flow5p.hoops.ne.jp/topics.htm
67. (25 February 2021). "Palette - にじさんじ3周年記念プロジェクト".