Watanabe Ayato

CLOUDTENPEDIA - Ayato Watanabe (渡邊 絢斗, Watanabe Ayato, born October 3) is a Japanese dancer, performer, and idol. He is a first-generation member of the theater boy band Cloud ten, a project produced by Yasushi Akimoto that launched in 2026 with a dedicated theater in Odaiba, Tokyo. Known for his versatile dance skills and his background in karate, Watanabe is one of the prominent figures in the group’s second performance unit and has been described as a “passionate young nobleman” who commands a wide range of dance genres.

Early Life and Background

Watanabe was born in Shizuoka Prefecture and grew up in a family that encouraged physical activity from a young age. When he was in the first grade of elementary school, his parents enrolled him in karate lessons—a decision that initially surprised him. Over the next five to six years, he trained rigorously and eventually earned a black belt, even winning a national championship in his division. This early discipline in martial arts would later inform his approach to dance and performance.

His first exposure to dance came around the same time, also at his parents’ suggestion. He began dance lessons reluctantly, but a pivotal moment changed his attitude entirely. As a young child, he had become a devoted fan of Genta Iwata of the group Sandaime J Soul Brothers, watching his performances with his family. Inspired by Iwata’s ability to bring joy to audiences, Watanabe decided he wanted to pursue entertainment himself. From that point, his commitment to dance deepened, and he continued training throughout his childhood and adolescence, eventually accumulating over a decade of dance experience.

Watanabe’s family remained a central source of support. His mother regularly sent him encouraging messages, and his father, though less expressive, worked behind the scenes to support his activities. When he left Shizuoka to move to Tokyo for his career, his parents drove him to the station and saw him off, a moment he later recalled with gratitude.

Career

Joining Cloud ten

Watanabe’s path to professional entertainment came through a chance discovery. While browsing his smartphone, he came across an announcement on a Mitsui Group official LINE account about auditions for a new boy band produced by Yasushi Akimoto. Motivated by a desire to become an idol and bring smiles to fans, he applied on his own initiative. At the time of application, he had already been involved in entertainment activities, and his long dance background gave him confidence.

The audition process was lengthy and competitive. Watanabe later admitted that he had experienced multiple auditions that ended in failure at the final stage, but he refused to give up. When his name was finally called as a successful candidate, he felt both immense joy and relief. He was officially announced as one of the 30 first-generation members of Cloud ten on April 23, 2026.

Debut and Theater Performances

Cloud ten made its formal debut with a dedicated theater, Cloud ten THEATER, located inside DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba. The theater opened on August 2, 2026, with a seating capacity of approximately 300 and a stage-to-front-row distance of about one meter, allowing for an unusually intimate performance experience. The group’s 30 members were divided into three rotating performance teams, each presenting daily shows.

Watanabe was part of the second team, which held its first theater performance on August 3, 2026. The setlist included 16 songs, opening with the group’s signature number “We’re Cloud ten” and featuring tracks such as “Gomen Ai Koso Subete” (Sorry, Love Is Everything). While the second team’s unit blocks highlighted solo and duet performances by other members, Watanabe contributed to the ensemble numbers with his dance-heavy stage presence.

Before the theater debut, the group had already been building momentum through a series of free live events across the Kanto region. Watanabe recalled that their first stage at Mitsui Outlet Park Yokohama Bayside drew far more people than he had expected, and by a May 10 event at Lazona Kawasaki, the audience had grown to over 1,000. These experiences, he said, made him feel that the group was steadily growing.

Artistry and Public Image

Watanabe is recognized within Cloud ten for his technical dance ability. He has trained in seven distinct dance genres: Hip-Hop, House, Rock, Jazz, Pop, Wack, and R&B. He is also capable of improvisational dance, a skill he has demonstrated in live performances. His dance style is frequently noted for its versatility and emotional intensity, earning him the epithet “the passionate young nobleman who wields diverse dances” in media coverage.

In addition to dance, Watanabe has worked to develop his vocal abilities. He has acknowledged that singing was initially his weakest area, as he had no prior vocal training. He has credited fellow member Kensuke Funamizu with helping him improve, noting that Funamizu’s strong singing ability made him a valuable mentor during training camps.

His stage presence is often described as refined and expressive, owing in part to his karate background and his long-standing admiration for Genta Iwata. Watanabe has stated that his ultimate individual goal is to perform alongside Iwata one day and to repay his family and supporters for their encouragement.

Personal Life

Watanabe stands 175 centimeters tall and is the youngest member of his share house in Tokyo, where he lives with fellow Cloud ten members Kotaro Hasumi, Hodaka Matsuo, and Haruto Abe. The four young men cook together, eat meals as a group, and spend evenings talking in the living room. Watanabe has described this living arrangement as genuinely enjoyable and has spoken warmly of the camaraderie among the members.

Outside of music and dance, Watanabe is an avid soccer fan. He has collected soccer player directories every year for the past decade and frequently watches J-League and Japan national team matches. He also follows the D-League, Japan’s professional dance league. During the 2026 World Cup, he and his housemates coordinated a nap so they could wake up in the middle of the night to watch Brazil’s match together—a story he has shared with amusement in interviews.

His other interests include listening to music and watching music and variety programs. He is also known for his encyclopedic knowledge of Japanese soccer league structures, including the J1, J2, J3, and JFL divisions, and has mentioned the possibility of a J4 league being established.

Goals and Aspirations

Watanabe has articulated both personal and group-level ambitions. Individually, he wants to collaborate with Genta Iwata, whom he credits as the reason he pursued a career in entertainment. He has also expressed a strong desire to give back to his family and those who have supported him, describing this as his “highest form of repayment”.

For Cloud ten as a whole, Watanabe has stated that the group’s dream is to perform at Nippon Budokan and eventually embark on a dome tour. This goal is deeply personal: his own inspiration to dance came from watching Sandaime J Soul Brothers perform at a dome concert, and he hopes Cloud ten can provide the same kind of inspiration to others.

He has also spoken about his ambition to become “the face of the theater,” a phrase that reflects his commitment to Cloud ten’s home venue and his desire to be a central figure in the group’s identity. For a young performer who moved away from his hometown at 17 to pursue this path, those ambitions carry both professional and emotional weight.

Reception and Media Coverage

Watanabe’s profile within Cloud ten has been shaped in part by the group’s extensive media rollout. In the summer of 2026, the sports newspaper Sanspo ran a large-scale serial feature introducing each member of Cloud ten, and Watanabe was the subject of the thirtieth installment. The article highlighted his polished appearance, his multi-genre dance proficiency, and his reflective attitude toward family and gratitude.

He has also been featured in coverage by Mainichi Shimbun, Nikkan Sports, Chunichi Sports, and Oricon, among other outlets, as part of the broader press attention surrounding Cloud ten’s launch. The group’s dedicated theater and daily performance model have positioned its members, including Watanabe, at the center of one of 2026’s most closely watched idol projects.