KAN
Birth nameKan Kimura (木村 和)
Born(1962-09-24)September 24, 1962
Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
DiedNovember 12, 2023(2023-11-12) (aged 61)
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • composer
  • lyricist
  • singer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocal
  • keyboard
Years active1983–20??
Labels
Websitewww.kimurakan.com

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)
  • 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
2020 "Pop Music"
  • Released: February 26, 2020
  • B-side: "KAN's Christmas Song"
 32

Albums

Studio albums
Year Details Peak chart positions
JPN
[10]
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

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)

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
[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)

  • Released: November 19, 2008
  • Label: zetima
 42
Compilation albums
Year Details Peak chart positions
JPN
[10]
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

—
2004

Golden Best

—
2005

KAN: Best 10

  • Released: November 9, 2005
  • Label: Universal
 —
2007

Ideas: The Very Best of KAN

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 978-4871310888.
  6. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  7. ^ "Singer-songwriter Kan, Known for Hit Song 'Ai wa Katsu,' Dies at 61". The Japan News. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  8. ^ "Japanese singer Kan, known for 1990 hit 'Love will Win,' dies at 61". The Mainichi. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "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
  10. ^ a b c "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

External links

Up-Front Group
Authority control databases
Categories