Zentaro Watanabe

Zentaro Watanabe (渡辺 善太郎, Watanabe Zentarō, 9 August 1963 – 22 July 2021), was a Japanese musician and music producer. He debuted as a musician in 1986 as the guitarist for the band Shijin no Chi, later forming the duo Oh! Penelope with former bandmate Mutsuji Tsuji. Since the mid-1990s, Watanabe worked as a music producer, creating songs such as Chara's "Yasashii Kimochi" (1997), Hitomi's "Love 2000" and Ikimonogakari's "Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi" (2008). In 2000, Watanabe launched a solo project entitled Atami.

Zentaro Watanabe
渡辺善太郎
Zentaro Watanabe as a member of Shijin no Chi in 1990
Zentaro Watanabe as a member of Shijin no Chi in 1990
Background information
Also known asAtami
Born(1963-08-09)9 August 1963[1]
OriginKurashiki, Japan
Died22 July 2021(2021-07-22) (aged 57)[2]
Occupation(s)Singer, producer
Years active1986–2021
LabelsEpic Records Japan, Avex Trax, Rainbow Entertainment, Toy's Factory

Biography

Watanabe debuted as a member of the band Shijin no Chi, through Epic Records Japan.[2][1] By 1993, the three-person unit had released five studio albums.[1] In March 1994, Watanabe retooled the group as a duo, creating Oh! Penelope with Shijin no Chi's vocalist Mutsuji Tsuji.[1] Oh! Penelope's mini album Photograph (1995) was one of the first enhanced CDs released in Japan.[1] After releasing their debut full-length album Milk & Cookies in March 1997, the band disbanded by June.[3] After the band's disbandment, Watanabe focused on working as a music producer, producing music such as Chara's "Yasashii Kimochi" (1997) and "70% (Yūgure no Uta)" (1999), Hitomi songs such as "Love 2000" and "Samurai Drive" (2001).[2]

In April 2000, Watanabe began working on Atami (stylised as atami), a solo music project involving guest vocalists, such as Miho Hatori, Chara, Hitomi and Kirinji.[3][2] Atami's delf-titled debut album released in February 2001.[1] In 2002, the band's single "Under the Sun" with Bonnie Pink was used as the theme song for the Yōsuke Kubozuka-starring film Laundry.[3] In March, the second Atami album was released.[3]

In addition to popular music, Watanabe worked as a music producer for the films Laundry (2001), Gravity's Clowns (2009), On Next Sunday (2009) and My Rainy Days (2009).[4] In 2012, Watanabe worked as the music producer for the NHK drama Hatsukoi,[2] and in 2013 for the anime Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea.

After a long period of illness, Watanabe died of pancreatic cancer on 27 July 2021.[2]

Atami discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details
Atami
Doppler
  • Released: 27 March 2002[5]
  • Label: Cutting Edge
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Compilation albums
Title Album details
Best
  • Released: 9 February 2018[5]
  • Label: Cutting Edge
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Album
"Nightingale"[1]
(featuring Bice)		 2000 Atami
"August" (八月, Hachigatsu)[1]
(featuring Miho Hatori)
"Mica"[1]
(featuring Chara)		 2001
"Under the Sun"[1]
(featuring Bonnie Pink)		 2002 Doppler

Production discography
Main article: Zentaro Watanabe production discography

References
  1. 渡辺善太郎 (in Japanese). Power Box. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  2. 音楽プロデューサー渡辺善太郎さん死去、いきものがかりなどを手がける (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. "CREATIVE ROOM 渡辺 善太郎" (in Japanese). Rainbow Entertainment. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  4. "CREATOR 渡辺 善太郎" (in Japanese). Rainbow Entertainment. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  5. "atamiの作品" [Atami Products]. Oricon. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
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