| KAN | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kan Kimura (木村 和) | 
| Born | September 24, 1962 Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan | 
| Died | November 12, 2023 (aged 61) | 
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | 
 | 
| Instrument(s) | 
 | 
| Years active | 1983–20?? | 
| Labels | 
 | 
| Website | www | 
Kan Kimura (木村 和, Kimura Kan, September 24, 1962 – November 12, 2023), known by his stage name Kan (commonly stylized as KAN), was a Japanese singer-songwriter.
In 1983, he joined his first band, which was called Annette, before going solo in 1984. Kan wrote the background music for a 1986 film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, and started his major 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]
As of 2010, Kan had released 33 singles and 15 studio albums. According to the Oricon, he sold over 4.6 million copies of albums and singles in his home country.[5][6]
Kan died of Meckel's diverticulum cancer on November 12, 2023, at the age of 61.[7][8]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | Details | Peak chart positions | 
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [9] | |||
| 1987 | "TV no Naka ni" (テレビの中に) | 
 | — | 
| "Bracket" | 
 | — | |
| 1988 | "Daijōbu I'm All Right" (だいじょうぶI'M ALL RIGHT) | 
 | — | 
| "Over You" | 
 | — | |
| 1989 | "Tokyo Life" (東京ライフ) | 
 | — | 
| "Regrets" | 
 | — | |
| 1990 | "Kenzen Anzen Kōseinen" (健全 安全 好青年) | 
 | — | 
| "Ai wa Katsu" (愛は勝つ) | 
 | 1 | |
| 1991 | "In the Name of Love" | 
 | 5 | 
| "Propose" | 
 | 5 | |
| 1992 | "Koppa Mijikai Koi" (こっぱみじかい恋) | 
 | 9 | 
| "Iezu no I Love You" (言えずのI LOVE YOU) | 
 | 13 | |
| "Shinu made Kimi o Hanasanai" (死ぬまで君を離さない) | 
 | 18 | |
| 1993 | "Marui Oshiri ga Yurusenai" (まるいお尻が許せない) | 
 | 15 | 
| "Mayumi" (まゆみ) | 
 | 17 | |
| "Itsumo Majime ni Kimi no Koto" (いつもまじめに君のこと) | 
 | 32 | |
| 1994 | "Sunshine of My Heart" | 
 | 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) | 
 | 42 | 
| "Tokyo ni Koi" (東京に来い) | 
 | 59 | |
| 1996 | "Man" | 
 | 50 | 
| "Namida no Yuyake" (涙の夕焼け) | 
 | 78 | |
| 1997 | "Songwriter" | 
 | 63 | 
| "Dora Dora Drive Daisakusen" (ドラ・ドラ・ドライブ大作戦) | 
 | 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) | 
 | 86 | 
| "Eigo de Gomen" (英語でゴメン) | 
 | 73 | |
| 1999 | "Happy Time, Happy Song" | 
 | 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) | 
 | 89 | |
| 2001 | "Close to Me" | 
 | 68 | 
| "Superfaker" | 
 | 89 | |
| 2006 | "Curry Rice" (カレーライス) | 
 | 54 | 
| "Sekai de Ichiban Suki na Hito" (世界でいちばん好きな人) | 
 | 56 | |
| 2010 | "Yokereba Issho ni" (よければ一緒に) | 
 | 56 | 
| 2011 | "Listen to the Music" | 
 | 70 | 
| 2020 | "Pop Music" | 
 | 32 | 
Albums
- Studio albums
| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | 
|---|---|---|
| JPN [10] | ||
| 1987 | Terebi no Naka ni (テレビの中に) 
 | — | 
| No-No-Yesman 
 | — | |
| 1988 | Girl to Love 
 | 86 | 
| 1989 | Happy Title: Kōfuku Senshuken (HAPPY TITLE-幸福選手権) 
 | 89 | 
| 1990 | Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta (野球選手が夢だった) 
 | 2 | 
| 1991 | Yukkuri Furo ni Tsukaritai (ゆっくり風呂につかりたい) 
 | 2 | 
| 1993 | Tokyoman 
 | 3 | 
| Firm Wills of a Timid Man (弱い男の固い意志, Yowai Otoko no Katai Ishi) 
 | 13 | |
| 1994 | Shinonome (東雲) 
 | 21 | 
| 1996 | Man 
 | 12 | 
| 1998 | Tigersongwriter 
 | 24 | 
| 1999 | Kremlinman 
 | 31 | 
| 2001 | Gleam and Squeeze 
 | 49 | 
| 2006 | Haruka naru Mawarimichi no Mukou de (遥かなるまわり道の向こうで) 
 | 27 | 
| 2010 | Kanchigai mo Hanahadashii Watashi no Jinsei (カンチガイもハナハダしい私の人生) 
 | 24 | 
- Live albums
| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | 
|---|---|---|
| JPN [10] | ||
| 2008 | Live Hikiatari-Battari #7: Ultra Tabun (LIVE 弾き語りばったり No. 7 〜ウルトラタブン〜 全会場から全曲収録) 
 | 42 | 
- Compilation albums
| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | 
|---|---|---|
| JPN [10] | ||
| 1992 | Mezurashii Jinsei (めずらしい人生) 
 | 4 | 
| 1997 | The Best Singles First Decade 
 | 31 | 
| 1999 | Treasure Collection 
 | — | 
| 2004 | Golden Best 
 | — | 
| 2005 | KAN: Best 10 
 | — | 
| 2007 | Ideas: The Very Best of KAN 
 | 38 | 
| 2010 | Songs out of Bounds 
 | 78 | 
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "オリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Original Confidence. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ↑ Okamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 978-4871310888.
- ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Singer-songwriter Kan, Known for Hit Song 'Ai wa Katsu,' Dies at 61". The Japan News. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Japanese singer Kan, known for 1990 hit 'Love will Win,' dies at 61". The Mainichi. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ↑ "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
- 1 2 3 "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