Kei Watanabe (渡辺 啓), born on June 16, 1976, in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, is a multifaceted figure in the Japanese entertainment industry. He is renowned as a screenwriter, manga author, voice actor, and former actor and comedian. Watanabe is affiliated with LDH JAPAN, a prominent talent agency.
Watanabe's career commenced in 1994 when he formed the comedy duo "Great Chicken Powers" with Masaki Kitahara, serving as the "boke" (funny man). The duo gained popularity, and Watanabe expanded his repertoire to include acting and voice acting. In 2003, he transitioned to screenwriting after his work "Country Road" won the Nippon TV Scenario Grand Prix. His screenwriting debut came in 2004 with the drama "Yasashisa Dayori."
Watanabe has since penned scripts for various television dramas, including "Tumbling," "Yaoh," and "Mikka Okure no Happy New Year!" His filmography features works like "HiGH&LOW THE WORST X" (2022), "Watashi ga Motete Dousunda" (2020), and "3 Nin no Nobunaga" (2019), which he also directed.
Beyond screenwriting, Watanabe has contributed to manga and stage productions. In 2006, he co-founded the writer unit "Aoi" with Takamichi Yamada, focusing on manga creation. He also established the theater unit "Hysteric D Band" with Norihisa Hiranuma in 2010, undertaking writing and directing roles.
As a voice actor, Watanabe has lent his voice to characters in anime series such as "The Prince of Tennis," portraying Katsuo Mizuno, and "Kabuto Borg VxV," voicing Ken Ryushou.
Watanabe's diverse talents and contributions have solidified his status as a versatile and influential figure in Japan's entertainment landscape.