WaT (Wentz and Teppei)

WaT is a Japanese pop duo band consist of singer / songwriter Eiji Wentz and Teppei Koike. The name WaT derives from their name (Wentz and Teppei). They meet each other on 2002 and formed WaT, playing street lives with their guitar. Both of them play vocal and guitar. Wentz also can play bass guitar, piano, tambourine and maracas, while Teppei also can play blue harps (harmonica).

Eiji Wentz ( ウ エンツ瑛士) born on October 8, 1985 from Mitaka City, Tokyo also knowns as an entertainer, comedian, model and actor. He is half German-America (father) and half Japanese (mother). Start his career as a model since 4 years old (1989). While Teppei Koike (小池 徹平) born on January 5, 1986 also known as an actor. He was born in Okasayama, Osaka. His career as an artist starting after he had won the grand prix contest of 14th Junon Super Boys Contest on 2001 at the age of 15 and on spring 2002 he moved to Tokyo and formed WaT with Eiji Wentz.

Summary of Work

2002

• Wentz and Teppei meet each other and become duo (during the time WaT yet not exist). Almost every Sunday, since the Golden week they plays street live performance with guitar at the street of Yogogi Park, Tokyo.
• Since Summer, they usually sing their own song in their performance and on Falls they got many invitation to sing at the school festival.

2003

• On December, more than 1000 audience gather to watch their street performance. Since it become chaos and traffic jammed, their street performance had to be finished.

2004

• Their first indie debut “Sotsugyou TIME” under independent label release on April, 18.
• Since then, they do many live performance in local festival.
• The official fan club “So WaT” been established.
• On May, WaT performed their first real live “WaT Entertainment Show Vol. 1″ . (Vol. 2 , Vol.3 …followed later)

2005

• After got 11 proposal from the Recording Production, finally on August WaT signs a contract with the Universal Music. In November their first single, “Boku no Kimochi,” marks their major label debut. The song makes it to second place in the Oricon ranking.
• Appears in the 56th Annual NHK Kouhaku Gassen. It has only been two months since their debut, giving WaT a place in history as the newest band ever to appear on the program.

2006

• Acts as an official supporter of the 2006 World Volleyball Championships
• Wins the best new artist award at the 43rd Annual Golden Arrow Awards.
• Wins the best new artist of the year award at the 20th Annual Japan Golden Disc Awards.
• Wins the best new artist award at the 39th Annual Best Hit Song Festival.
• Wins a special award at the 39th Annual Japan Yuusen Awards.
• Wins the best new artist award at the 48th Annual Japan Record Awards.
• Appears for the second year in a row in 57th Annual NHK Kouhaku Gassen, (5 cm)
• Their first album 卒業TIME~僕らのはじまり~ (Sotsugyo TIME~Bokura no Hajimari) released on Mar 01, 2006 (Oricon Chart Position – 2) which also included the song from their indie debut single.
• The first live National Tour “WaT ENTERTAINMENT SHOW 2006 ACT” do “LIVE Vol.4″
• Their DVD movie “My Favorite Girl” issued on Dec. 20.

2007

• Start their solo career with the released Teppei Koike’s single of Kimi ni Okuru Uta on February, 14 with Eiji Wentz song Lucky de Happy as b-side. On April 25, Eiji Wentz solo single Awaking Emotion 8/5 released. (There are not disbanded, just want to do some solo project).
• Appears in the 3rd year in the row in in 58th Annual NHK Kouhaku Gassen. (WaT Kouhaku selection: Awaking Emotion 8/5, Kimi ni Okuru Uta, Boku no Kimochi)

2008

• 2nd WaT national live tour “WaT Live Tour 2008″ shows in 6 cities nationwide, from 07 May to 31 May.· 59th Annual NHK Kouhaku Gassen; appears in 4th consecutive year. (36 °c)

Biodata of WaT

ウエンツ瑛士 Wentz Eiji

· Profession: Actor, entertainer, comedian and singer / songwriter

· Birthdate: 1985 Oct 08

· Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

· Star sign: Libra

· Blood type: O

· Height: 170 cm

· Weight: 55 kg

小池徹平 Koike Teppei

· Profession: Actor and singer/songwriter

· Birthdate: 1986 Jan 05

· Birthplace: Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan

· Star sign: Capricorn

· Blood type: B

· Height: 167 cm

· Weight: 54kg

Body of Works

Single

· Sotsugyo TIME (Feb. 18, 2004) – independent single

· Boku no Kimochi (Nov. 02, 2005)

· Go Senchi (January 25, 2006)

· Hava Rava (August 02, 2006)

· Ready Go (Nov. 11, 2006)

· Bokura no Love Story (Dec. 06, 2006)

· Yume no Tochuu (Jan. 16, 2008)

· Toki wo Koete ~Fantastic world~ (April 23, 2008)

· 36°c (Oct. 29, 2008)

· Kimi ga Boku ni KISS wo Shita (July 28, 2010)

· 24/7 ~Mou Ichido (Sept. 08, 2010)

Solo single

· Kimi ni Okuru Uta / Lucky de Happy (Feb. 14, 2007)

· Awaking Emotion 8/5 / My Brand New Way (April 25, 2007)

Album

· Sotsugyo TIME ~Bokura no Hajimari (March 01, 2006)

· WaT Collection (Nov. 28, 2007)

Theater

• 2004 - WaT Entertainment Show 2004 ACT “do” LIVE Vol.1 "Untitled"
• 2004 - WaT Entertainment Show 2004 ACT “do” LIVE Vol.2 "Yami no Kado"
• 2005 - WaT Entertainment Show 2005 ACT “do” LIVE Vol.3 "Anya no Karasu" and "Untitled"
• 2006 - WaT Entertainment Show 2006 ACT “do” LIVE Vol.4 "Suicide Store" and "IOUJIMA"

DVD

• WaT ENTERTAINMENT SHOW 2006 ACT “do” LIVE Vol.4 (April 26, 2006)
• My Favorite Girl – the movie (Dec. 20, 2006)
• WaT Music Video Collection (May 28, 2008)
•  WaT LIVE TOUR 2008 ” Kyo × Shokichi = Daikichi Tour” at Yoshi Hiroshi (July 30, 2008)

Commercials

· Gyao (2005)

· E2 by SKY! (2007)

Recognition

• Wins the best new artist award at the 43rd Annual Golden Arrow Awards.
• Wins the best new artist of the year award at the 20th Annual Japan Golden Disc Awards.
• Wins the best new artist award at the 39th Annual Best Hit Song Festival.
• Wins a special award at the 39th Annual Japan Yuusen Awards.
• Wins the best new artist award at the 48th Annual Japan Record Awards.

Credit to WaT forum, Fans Blogs, Wikipedia