Kan (musician)

KAN
Birth name	Kan Kimura (木村 和)
Born	September 24, 1962 Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
Genres	Pop, pop rock, new wave
Occupation(s)	composer, lyricist, singer
Instruments	Vocal, keyboard
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Polydor Japan, Warner Music Japan, BMG Funhouse, zetima
Website	www.kimurakan.com

Kan Kimura (木村 和 Kimura Kan, born September 24, 1962), known by his stage name Kan (commonly stylized as KAN), is a Japanese singer-songwriter.

In 1986, Kan wrote the background music for the film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, and started his recording career the following year.^[1] He is best known for the chart-topping hit "Ai wa Katsu", released as a single in 1990.^[2] It sold over 2 million copies and won the 33rd Japan Record Award, bringing the artist into prominence.^[3] Subsequently, he spawned five top-ten singles and four top-ten albums on the Japanese record chart during the first half of the 1990s.^[4]

Kan has released 33 singles and 15 studio albums. According to the Oricon, he has sold over 4.6 million copies of albums and singles in his home country.^[5][6]

Discography

Singles

Year	Single	Details	Peak chart positions
			JPN [7]
1987	"TV no Naka ni" (テレビの中に)	Released: April 25, 1987 B-Side: "Celluloid City mo Hi ga Kurete" (セルロイドシティも日が暮れて)	—
	"Bracket"	Released: October 25, 1987 B-Side: "Boku no Genuine Kiss" (僕のGENUINE KISS)	—
1988	"Daijōbu I'm All Right" (だいじょうぶI'M ALL RIGHT)	Released: June 25, 1988 B-Side: "France ni Tsuita Hi" (フランスについた日)	—
	"Over You"	Released: November 25, 1988 B-Side: "Never Leave"	—
1989	"Tokyo Life" (東京ライフ)	Released: May 1, 1989 B-Side: "Kimi kara Me ga Hanasenai" (君から目がはなせない)	—
	"Regrets"	Released: September 1, 1989 B-Side: "All I Want Is You"	—
1990	"Kenzen Anzen Kōseinen" (健全 安全 好青年)	Released: May 25, 1990 B-Side: "Seishun Kokudō 202" (青春国道202)	—
	"Ai wa Katsu" (愛は勝つ)	Released: September 1, 1990 B-Side: "Soredemo Furarete shimau Yatsu" (それでもふられてしまう男)	1
1991	"In the Name of Love"	Released: April 25, 1991 B-Side: "Tokidoki Kumo to Hanashi o Shiyō" (ときどき雲と話をしよう)	5
	"Propose"	Released: July 11, 1991 B-Side: "Koi suru Kimochi" (恋する気持ち)	5
1992	"Koppa Mijikai Koi" (こっぱみじかい恋)	Released: January 21, 1992 B-Side: "Tokyo Life" (New Recording)	9
	"Iezu no I Love You" (言えずのI LOVE YOU)	Released: March 25, 1992 B-Side: "Day by Day"	13
	"Shinu made Kimi o Hanasanai" (死ぬまで君を離さない)	Released: October 22, 1992 B-Side: "KAN no Christmas Song" (KANのChristmas Song)	18
1993	"Marui Oshiri ga Yurusenai" (まるいお尻が許せない)	Released: January 21, 1993 B-Side: "Long Vacation"	15
	"Mayumi" (まゆみ)	Released: April 21, 1993 B-Side: "France ni Tsuita Hi" (フランスについた日) (New Recording)	17
	"Itsumo Majime ni Kimi no Koto" (いつもまじめに君のこと)	Released: November 17, 1993 B-Side: "Hayaku Futtekure" (はやくふってくれ)	32
1994	"Sunshine of My Heart"	Released: November 26, 1994 B-Side: "Kimitachi wa Umakuiku" (君たちはうまく行く)	47
1995	"Subete no Kanashimi ni Sayonara Suru Tame ni" (すべての悲しみにさよならするために)	Released: January 25, 1995 B-Side: "Rival"	42
	"Tokyo ni Koi" (東京に来い)	Released: May 10, 1995 B-Side: "Nerima Bijin" (練馬美人)	59
1996	"Man"	Released: May 27, 1996 B-Side: "Zoku Rival" (続ライバル)	50
	"Namida no Yuyake" (涙の夕焼け)	Released: August 26, 1996 B-Side: "Permanent Dragon"	78
1997	"Songwriter"	Released: August 27, 1997 B-Side: "Kimi o Matsu" (君を待つ)	63
	"Dora Dora Drive Daisakusen" (ドラ・ドラ・ドライブ大作戦)	Released: December 25, 1997 B-Side: "Kekkon Shinai Futari" (結婚しない二人) (Live)	86
1998	"Saint Petersburg" (サンクト・ペテルグルブ～ダジャレ男の悲しきひとり旅 Dajare Otoko no Kanashiki Hitoritabi)	Released: February 5, 1998 B-Side: "Kimi o Matsu" (君を待つ)	86
	"Eigo de Gomen" (英語でゴメン)	Released: September 25, 1998 B-Side: "Saint Petersburg" (Live)	73
1999	"Happy Time, Happy Song"	Released: February 5, 1999 B-Sides: "Venus" (女神 Megami)	68
	"Kotoshi mo Koshite Futari de Christmas o Iwau" (今年もこうして二人でクリスマスを祝う)	Released: November 25, 1999 B-Sides: "Angel" (天使 Tenshi), "Labyrinth" (迷宮 Meikyu)	89
2001	"Close to Me"	Released: January 24, 2001 B-Sides: "Kohitsuji" (子羊), "Rock Shiren no Koi" (ロック試練の恋)	68
	"Superfaker"	Released: September 26, 2001 B-Sides: "Karasu" (カラス), "Tokidoki Kumo to Hanashi o Shiyō" (ときどき雲と話をしよう)	89
2006	"Curry Rice" (カレーライス)	Released: February 22, 2006 B-Side: "I Love You"	54
	"Sekai de Ichiban Suki na Hito" (世界でいちばん好きな人)	Released: November 29, 2006 B-Sides: "Cherry", "Tokyo Nettai Squeeze" (東京熱帯SQUEEZE)	56
2010	"Yokereba Issho ni" (よければ一緒に)	Released: February 10, 2010 B-Sides: "Bye Bye Bye"	56
2011	"Listen to the Music"	Released: December 7, 2011 B-Side: "Christmas Song"	70

Albums

Studio albums

Year	Details	Peak chart positions
		JPN [8]
1987	Terebi no Naka ni (テレビの中に) Released: April 25, 1987 Label: Polydor	—
	No-No-Yesman Released: October 25, 1987 Label: Polydor	—
1988	Girl to Love Released: June 25, 1988 Label: Polydor	86
1989	Happy Title: Kōfuku Senshuken (HAPPY TITLE-幸福選手権) Released: June 21, 1989 Label: Polydor	89
1990	Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta (野球選手が夢だった) Released: July 25, 1990 Label: Polydor	2
1991	Yukkuri Furo ni Tsukaritai (ゆっくり風呂につかりたい) Released: May 22, 1991 Label: Polydor	2
1993	Tokyoman Released: February 25, 1993 Label: Polydor	3
	Firm Wills of a Timid Man (弱い男の固い意志 Yowai Otoko no Katai Ishi) Released: December 10, 1993 Label: Polydor	13
1994	Shinonome (東雲) Released: November 26, 1994 Label: Polydor	21
1996	Man Released: May 27, 1996 Label: Polydor	12
1998	Tigersongwriter Released: March 5, 1998 Label: Warner Music Japan	24
1999	Kremlinman Released: April 21, 1999 Label: Warner Music Japan	31
2001	Gleam and Squeeze Released: September 26, 2001 Label: BMG Funhouse	49
2006	Haruka naru Mawarimichi no Mukou de (遥かなるまわり道の向こうで) Released: August 30, 2006 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima	27
2010	Kanchigai mo Hanahadashii Watashi no Jinsei (カンチガイもハナハダしい私の人生) Released: March 10, 2010 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima	24

Live albums

Year	Details	Peak chart positions
		JPN [8]
2008	Live Hikiatari-Battari #7: Ultra Tabun (LIVE　弾き語りばったり #7 〜ウルトラタブン〜 全会場から全曲収録) Released: November 19, 2008 Label: zetima	42

Compilation albums

Year	Details	Peak chart positions
		JPN [8]
1992	Mezurashii Jinsei (めずらしい人生) Released: February 28, 1992 Label: Polydor	4
1997	The Best Singles First Decade Released: September 3, 1997 Label: Polydor/Mercury	31
1999	Treasure Collection Released: June 30, 1999 Label: PolyGram	—
2004	Golden Best Released: February 25, 2004 Label: Universal Japan	—
2005	KAN: Best 10 Released: November 9, 2005 Label: Universal	—
2007	Ideas: The Very Best of KAN Released: November 28, 2007 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima	38
2010	Songs out of Bounds Released: October 27, 2010 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima	78

References

1. movie.goo.ne.jp "日本殉情伝 おかしなふたり ものくるほしきひとびとの群 : goo 映画" [Nippon Junjo Den Okashi na Futari : Cast]. goo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved September 24, 2012.
2. 芸能 > ３６５日　あの頃ヒット曲ランキング　> 1991年1月 > 愛は勝つ／ＫＡＮ　ＦＭから200万枚超のセールス　友人の恋愛相談がヒント. Sports Nippon; sponichi.co.jp (in Japanese). January 16, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
3. 第33回日本レコード大賞 [The 33rd Record Awards Winners]. jacompa.jp (in Japanese). Japanese Composers Association. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
4. "　オリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Original Confidence. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
5. Okamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968-2010 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4871310884.
6. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
7. "　KANのCDシングルランキング" [KAN: Peak positions and weeks on chart]. Original Confidence. Retrieved September 24, 2012.Note: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information are currently unavailable
8. "　KANのCDアルバムランキング" [KAN: Peak positions and weeks on chart]. Original Confidence. Retrieved September 24, 2012.Note: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information are currently unavailable