Kazuki Watanabe
April 7, 1981 – October 31, 2000, known by his stage name Kazuki, was a Japanese musician known as guitarist and lead songwriter of the visual kei rock band Raphael. The group became quite popular, with all their releases entering the top 40 of the Oricon chart, before disbanding after Kazuki died at the age of 19.
Also recorded as Kazuki
Kazuki Watanabe
- Name
- Kazuki
- Birth Name
- Kazuki Watanabe
- Born
- 7 April 1981
- Birthplace
- Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
- Died
- 31 October 2000
- Place of death
- Ebisu, Shibuya
- Occupation
- * Musician
- Nationality
- Japan
- Fields
- progressive rock
- Languages
- Japanese
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April 7, 1981 – October 31, 2000, known by his stage name Kazuki, was a Japanese musician known as guitarist and lead songwriter of the visual kei rock band Raphael. The group became quite popular, with all their releases entering the top 40 of the Oricon chart, before disbanding after Kazuki died at the age of 19.
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Kazuki • Birth Name — Kazuki Watanabe • Alias — Kazuki • Born — 7 April 1981 • Birthplace — Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan • Died — 31 October 2000 • Place of death — Ebisu, Shibuya • Genre — * Progressive rock • art rock • symphonic rock • Occupation — * Musician • guitarist • songwriter • Instrument — Guitar • Years Active — 1995–2000 • Past Member Of — * Raphael • Yuri Juujidan • Website — Official site
Life
Life
Kazuki Watanabe was born on April 7, 1981, in Shibuya, Tokyo. After playing some roles in a few TV programs and a film, he went on to have a musical career. In 1995, he and bassist Yukito formed a punk cover band which covered songs by bands such as The Blue Hearts and Ramones. In 1996, Kazuki and Yukito both soon began writing original material, and later formed Raphael in 1997, whose members were all just 15 years old. In only three years time they were popular enough to headline the Nippon Budokan. He also had a side-project called Yuri Juujidan, a band consisted of Kazuki (vocals), Kuruto (ex-Pleur) on bass and Mask on guitar. All of their songs are instrumental because Kazuki died before he could record his voice. On October 31, 2000, he was found dead in his room located in Ebisu, Shibuya. He was 19 years old. The cause of death was reported as a sedative overdose, according to the Shibuya Police in Tokyo. After his death, Raphael disbanded in January 2001. In 2012, they reunited for two concerts on October 31 (Kazuki's 12th death anniversary) and November 1, and released a re-recording of their hit 1999 song "Eternal Wish (Todokanu Kimi e)" as a single.
Identity
Identity
Kazuki Watanabe is recorded with the occupation songwriter. Classed in the genre progressive rock. Recorded as composer, lyricist, guitarist and songwriter.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1981
Kazuki Watanabe was born on 7 April 1981.
2000
Kazuki Watanabe died on 31 October 2000.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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