Naoki Watanabe (渡辺 直樹, Watanabe Naoki), born on October 13, 1956, is a Japanese professional bassist. He started his professional career when he was 15 and has since worked for various studios, bands, and concerts as a support artist. He is best known for his rock arrangements but has dabbled into blues, pop, and reggae. He has worked with several popular artists in the past such as B'z, Maki Ohguro, Chihiro Onitsuka, and others. Starting in 2002, Watanabe went solo and is not affiliated with any agency at the moment. His personal website is here.