Raphael

[Lily 106]

Raphael was formed in March 1997 and had to disband after the death of the leader, Kazuki. Kazuki was the one who named the band, "Raphael", as he remembered "the healing angel" as raphael at his Catholic School. It was because Kazuki wanted his music to be able to heal the hearts of the listeners.

Kazuki ran away from home, because of his father had disapproved of Kazuki's dream of being a singer and putting all his efforts into music. Kazuki was only 15 years old. He became a guitarist and formed the band with his classmate Yukito. Later joined the band Yuki and Hiro too. Kazuki met with Yuki in a Karaoke Bar, when he searched a singer. Their first live was on 24th December 1997. Their indies debut was on 7th April 1998, with their mini-album Lilac. Successes accumulated and barely one year later they released their major debut single 'Hana saku inochi aru kagiri'.

Being the leader of Raphael at such a young age, Kazuki had to face lots of problems and had great responsibilities. Thus, Kazuki started to take Tranquilizers to relieve the stress he was feeling.

On top of being the leader of Raphael, he was also planning on his solo career Yuri Juujidan, which added stress too. That was how Kazuki sadly passed away unexpectedly.

On 31.10.2000 at 9a.m. Kazuki died from an over dosage of Tranquilizers. A medicine to reduce stress... After his death Raphael had to disband in 2001. In 2001 Yuki and Hiro fomed rice. Yukito being the singer and bassist of Black Love.

Name: Yuki

Real Name: Sakurai Yuki

Gender: Male

Role: Vocalist

Bithday Date: 11 July 1981

Blood type: B

Height: 176

Hometown: Kanagawa

Name: Kazuki

Real Name: Watanabe Kazuki

Gender: Male

Role: Guitarist, Leader of the band, Song & Lyrics writer

Birthday: 7 April 1981

Blood type: B

Height: 175

Hometown: Tokyo

Name: Yukito

Real Name: Honda Yukito

Gender: Male

Role: Bassist

Birthday: 23 May 1981

Blood type: A

Height: 170

Hometown: Hama

Name: Hiro

Real Name: Kazuhiro Murata

Gender: Male

Role: Drummer

Birthday: 17 November 1981

Blood type: B

Hometown: Kanagawa

Discography:

1997,

--> 1st Live in CLUB24 at Yokohama, 24.12.1997

1998,

--> 1st Mini-Album "Lilac", 07.04.1998

--> 1st Video "~LILAC~ ~VISION OF EXTREMES~" (1st press with an illustration sticker drawn by Kazuki), 01.08.1998

--> 1st Single "White Love Story" (30,000 copies limited), 01.11.1998

1999,

--> 1st Maxi Single "SICK", 20.02.1999

--> 2nd Single "Yume Yori Sutekina" (1st press with a photo card), 29.04.1999

--> 3rd Single "Sweet Romace" (1st press with a photo card), 29.04.1999

--> 4th Single "Hana Saku Inochi Aru Kagiri" (Raphael's past singles)(1st press with a photo card & special packaging), 23.07.1999

--> 2nd Video "VISION OF EXTREMES II" (1st press with a mini sticker collection), 22.09.1999

--> 5th Single "eternal wish ~Todokanu Kimie~" (1st press with a special postcard), 01.10.1999

--> 1st Major Album "Mind Soap", 01.12.1999

2000,

--> 1st Major Mini-Album "Sotsugyou", 23.03.2000

--> 3rd Video "Pictoral Poem", 24.05.2000

--> 6th Single "evergreen" (1st press with a photo card), 23.08.2000

--> 4th Video "Raphael Special LIVE "graduation" 200.3.4 Nippon Budokan", 23.08.2000

--> 7th Single "Akikaze no Rhapsody" (1st press with an A4 size poster), 01.11.2000

2001,

--> 2nd Album "Fumetsuka" (1st press with Kazuki poster), 21.02.2001

--> 1st Photo Book "Daisuki, Kajurin" (Mainly on Kazuki)(7000 copies limited), 17.02.2001

--> 2nd Photo Book "Kagetsu Tei-neiji" (All about Kazuki), 22.03.2001

--> 5th Video "forever and ever" (Raphael Singles)(1st press with art poster of Kazuki in "Tenshi nanka jyanai" drawn by mangaka Ai Yazawa), 25.04.2001

--> 3rd Photo Book "Evergreen" (All about Kazuki)(2800 copies limited), 20.06.2001

--> 8th Single "lost graduation" (1st press with postcard), 01.08.2001

--> 3rd Album "N/A" (All of Raphael's Singles), 01.08.2001

You can download stuffs from here

They are my favorite band. I love Kazuki so much!! :$

[minre 13]

Ahh, it always depresses me when I read 'kazuki died of an overdose', I can't help but think of all the songs he could have written >_<.

So pretty the songs.

[Asakusa 95]

i read something about a tribute album somewhere... can't remember tho. it does exist or not?

[TheBistroButcher666 228]

Good band, one of my favourites. Going to pop some Raphael in now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbBXgKA2kdE

Best Raphael performance imo.

[Lily 106]

Memorial album? Do you think Fumetsuka? It released in 2001. But there's a Kazuki Tribute single too, it released in 2003.

I have not heard about what they're planning this year... :-/

Arithmetica: I love Kazuki's performance!! He had a good voice, but he couldn't singing. XD

[Karma’s Hat 3107]

Do they have something really "aproachable" ? The singers voice always turned me off, but for some reason i really want to get into them.

[Lily 106]

What do you mean? f you don't like Yuki's voice listen the instrumental version of their songs. XD

[Karma’s Hat 3107]

Well a release that is easy to get into. The beginner material, you know?

[Lily 106]

You can find their discography anywhere. But if you want, I can upload some stuffs for you.

This is a very good album for example:

Raphael - Mind Soap

or this Raphael - Singles (Credit: Evil-en Lucifer)

[Karma’s Hat 3107]

Thanks!

[Lily 106]

You're welcome! If you need something, just ask me.

[Lily 106]

10 years have passed... since Kazuki-kun left us...

Rest in Peace...

Sayonara, my little angel!

[Raijingusan 0]

Fantastic Band! I discovered them only today,after listening song from youtube i immediately downloaded they whole discography. But its sad what happened to Kazuki,he was too young :/

I really love Lost Graduation,its my favorite song.

[Lily 106]

I'm glad that you discovered them!! They're very talented, I think.

I want shocking you a bit:

That's a horrible cover of the Raphael song "Yume yori sutekina"... The vocalists have terrible voice and the guitarist can't play the solos without failures.

[Raijingusan 0]

Indeed,the cover is really bad,i hate that vocal - it cant even match yuki voice.

But its a shame,iam horrible guitarist myself and i want to play Raphael songs :/

[Lily 106]

I can play Raphael songs on guitar. I really love to play them.

I can play for example: Akikaze no Rhapsody, Lost Graduation, Eternal wish, Ningen Fushin, Evergreen and Yume yori sutekina too.

But I want to learn Fumetsuka or Shoujou 3.

[Raijingusan 0]

Iam jealous ! I would like to play Lost Graduation too! Its simply my favorite song from Raphael.

[Lily 106]

Try out!

Here is some tabs from Raphael in Guitar pro:

Raphael Tabs

[Raijingusan 0]

Oh Arigatou! You are very generous person

I cant thank you enough,i already had lost graduation gp tab but not the rest,thanks again,great collection x)

[Lily 106]

You're welcome.

I hope you can use them!

[nutberry 4]

I'm glad that you discovered them!! They're very talented, I think.

I want shocking you a bit:

That's a horrible cover of the Raphael song "Yume yori sutekina"... The vocalists have terrible voice and the guitarist can't play the solos without failures.

This reminds me of something: there's a rumor (which i guess it's not a rumor anymore) that there's compilation album that's gonna be released next year for covering some of the 90's Visual Kei hits...and "DOG in the PWO" is covering the same song...

I dislike DOG in the PWO ever since I knew them, from their oshare kei style outfits to music (...duh, I know a lot of ppl will be mad at me for saying this ), and knowing that they're covering one of my favorite band's song...my face went like this → (￣△￣

I'll say I'd listen to that album just for fun then...

[nutberry 4]

and I found it on japan discoveries, you can be prepared to be shocked (￣△￣

click here

[Lily 106]

I don't know Dog in the PWO... But I think they will be better than this band....

[nutberry 4]

I don't know Dog in the PWO... But I think they will be better than this band....

Its full name is DOG inThe Parallel World Orchestra or DOG in The パラレルワールドオーケスト, you can find their PVs on youtube and everything. I don't know if you like bands such as SuG/An Cafe/other oshare kei bands, in my opinion DOG in the PWO's just like them but less well known ╮(╯_╰)╭

i'll just wait for the album come out and listen to it, hope it won't be too bad

[Lily 106]

I like some oshare bands, like Serial Number or Aicle. And I likethe older songs of SuG.

i'll listen them.