Raphael

Raphael was a Japanese visual kei rock band that formed in 1997, when the members were only 15. They disbanded in 2001, after guitarist Kazuki died at age 19. In 2012, it was announced that the remaining members will reunite Raphael for two concerts on October 31 and November 1.

Raphael was originally started by bassist Yukito in 1997, after recruiting guitarist Kazuki (華月?), vocalist Yuki and finally drummer Hiro, they had their first concert on December 10. Their first album Lilac was released in 1998 and was followed with a home video.

They charted on the Oricon chart for the first time when their song "Yume Yori Suteki na" was used for the TBS show Kyaiin Kanbyou no Megumi no Heart (キャイーン・寛平の女神のハート?). They released two singles on the same day, one hitting number 37, and one number 38.

In 1999 their major label debut, "Hanasaku Inochi Aru Kagiri", reached number 25 on the Oricon.[ Their later releases centered about graduation because it was around the time the members would have graduated from high school, had they not dropped out to pursue music. They performed their first show at the Nippon Budokan in March 2000.

However, on October 31, 2000, guitarist Kazuki died of a tranquilizer overdose. In January 2001, after finishing a nationwide tour, Raphael decided to disband. Yuki and Hiro went on to form Rice, while Yukito formed Black Love.

Raphael's song "Yume Yori Suteki na" was covered by Dog in the Parallel World Orchestra on the compilation Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-. The album was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement.

On April 7, 2012, it was announced that the remaining members Yuki, Yukito and Hiro will reunite Raphael for two nights only at Zepp Tokyo on October 31 and November 1. With Yuki claiming he had made the decision back in 2010, while visiting Kazuki's grave. They later announced they will release a single under the name "Raphael -Starring Kazuki-" on the day of the first show; a re-recording of their hit 1999 single "Eternal Wish (Todokanu Kimi e)" that will also include the previously unreleased songs "Dear", "Haikei Nervous" and "Elf no Yuutsu".

Members

Yuki Sakurai – vocals
Yukito Honda – bass, contrabass, backing vocals
Kazuhiro "Hiro" Murato – drums

Former member
Kazuki Watanabe – guitar, main songwriter, leader · close