Anime Song and J-Pop Concert in Cote d’Ivoire – FLOW, sajou no hana, and EYRIE to Perform Together in Africa for the First Time

The Japan Foundation (JF) will organize live music performances by three artists—FLOW, sajou no hana, and EYRIE—with the aim of deepening cultural exchange between Japan and Cote d’Ivoire.

In recent years, interest in Japanese pop culture, including anime and manga, has been increasing in the West African region. Through this concert, which features a diverse range of styles such as Japanese rock, pop music, music inspired by Japanese manga culture, and anime songs, we will introduce the breadth and creativity of contemporary Japanese culture. Special performances in collaboration with popular artists from Cote d’Ivoire will also be presented. In addition to the performance, social events between Japanese-language learners and the artists sajou no hana and EYRIE will be held.

Through this concert and the social events, we aim to promote better mutual understanding and friendly relations between Japan and Cote d’Ivoire.

J-POP Anime Ivoire 2026 

Date	Saturday, January 31, 2026, 7:00 P.M.
Venue	PALAIS DE LA CULTURE (SALLE KODJO EBOUCLE)
Admission	Free (Advance reservation required)
Performers	(Japan) FLOW, sajou no hana, EYRIE (Cote d’Ivoire) DRE-A, Petit Colas, Zikos
Organizer	The Japan Foundation (JF)
Co-Organizer	Embassy of Japan in Cote d’Ivoire, Ministry of Culture and Francophone Affairs of Cote d’Ivoire, SONY MUSIC AFRICA
Support	TODA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Mini Concert at Shopping Mall

Date	Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 6:00 P.M.
Venue	Playce Palmeraie
Admission	Free (No reservation required)
Performers	(Japan) FLOW, sajou no hana, EYRIE (Cote d’Ivoire) DRE-A, Petit Colas, Zikos
Organizer	The Japan Foundation (JF)
Co-Organizer	Embassy of Japan in Cote d’Ivoire, CFAO CONSUMER COTE D’IVOIRE, SONY MUSIC AFRICA

Artist Profiles

FLOW

A 5-member mixture rock band started by brothers KOHSHI (older brother, vocals) and TAKE (younger brother, guitar) in 1993, completing into its current member formation in 2000. After debuting in 2003, FLOW has an established reputation for hit anime works, including themes for anime “NARUTO” (GO!!!, many others), opening themes for “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion”, (COLORS, WORLD END), the theatrical feature “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods” (CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA and HERO - Kibou No Uta), and the opening theme for ”Tales of Zestiria the Cross” (Kaze no Uta).
They have written songs for numerous other anime works as well.
Since 2006, FLOW has also been actively performing overseas, and from 2024 to 2025, they embarked on the largest world tour in their history, “ANIME SHIBARI”, covering Australia, North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. Continuing to transcend borders as a live band, they bring their music to fans around the globe.
Strongly streamed, their song “Sign” for the opening of “NARUTO Shippuden” has been played over 140 million times worldwide on Spotify.

sajou no hana

sajou no hana made her debut in 2018 with the ending theme “Hoshie” for the TV anime “Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger”. Known for creating songs that perfectly complement the worlds of the anime she works on, she has contributed to numerous anime theme songs.
In January 2019, she was featured on the opening theme “99.9” for the TV anime “Mob Psycho 100 Ⅱ ” under the name MOB CHOIR feat. sajou no hana. She also performed the ending themes “Memosepia” and “Gray” for the same series.
She has sung various theme songs for the “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?” anime series.
For the second season of the TV anime “Ishura”, she took on lyric writing for the first time with the ending theme “THE IOLITE”, showcasing her refined lyrical sensibility.
She is highly regarded for her powerful voice and wide expressive range, which often defy expectations based on her appearance.

EYRIE

EYRIE is a Japan-based keyboard duo formed by pianists Eiko Suzuki and Rina Kohmoto. Centering their performances on a unique setup in which the two play one piano simultaneously, they blend acoustic piano sound with synthesizers, synth bass, and Rina’s signature keytar, creating dynamic, immersive shows with their touring drummer. Their innovative style has earned growing attention both in Japan and abroad.
EYRIE made their debut at the FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL in 2021 and returned in 2024, with additional appearances at major events throughout Japan including SYNCHRONICITY, Hibiya Music Festival, METROCK OSAKA, JOIN ALIVE, NAKASU JAZZ and MUJIC CITY TENJIN.
In 2024, EYRIE released their second album - and their first major-label release - Hinotori (“Phoenix”) on Universal Music Japan, an official collaboration with the legendary manga artist Osamu Tezuka, often called the “God of Manga” - under Universal Music Japan, and performed a special concert at the Osamu Tezuka Memorial Museum.
Their international presence continues to grow, including an invitation to a major jazz festival in the Republic of Kosovo in 2025 and increasing offers from overseas. With a one-of-a-kind performance style and world-class musicality, EYRIE represents a new generation of instrumental artists redefining what keyboard music can be.