, 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. He is best known for the chart-topping hit "Ai wa Katsu", released as a single in 1990. It sold over 2 million copies and won the 33rd Japan Record Award, bringing the artist into prominence. Subsequently, he spawned five top-ten singles and four top-ten albums on the Japanese record chart during the first half of the 1990s.
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.
Kan died of Meckel's diverticulum cancer on November 12, 2023, at the age of 61.
Discography Singles YearSingleDetailsPeak chart positions JPNNote: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information are currently unavailable1987Released: April 25, 1987 B-Side: —"Bracket"Released: October 25, 1987 B-Side: —1988Released: June 25, 1988 B-Side: —"Over You"Released: November 25, 1988 B-Side: "Never Leave"—1989Released: May 1, 1989 B-Side: —"Regrets"Released: September 1, 1989 B-Side: "All I Want Is You"—1990Released: May 25, 1990 B-Side: —Released: September 1, 1990 B-Side: 11991"In the Name of Love"Released: April 25, 1991 B-Side: 5"Propose"Released: July 11, 1991 B-Side: 51992Released: January 21, 1992 B-Side: "Tokyo Life" (New Recording)9Released: March 25, 1992 B-Side: "Day by Day"13Released: October 22, 1992 B-Side: 181993Released: January 21, 1993 B-Side: "Long Vacation"15Released: April 21, 1993 B-Side: (New Recording)17Released: November 17, 1993 B-Side: 321994"Sunshine of My Heart"Released: November 26, 1994 B-Side: 471995Released: January 25, 1995 B-Side: "Rival"42Released: May 10, 1995 B-Side: 591996"Man"Released: May 27, 1996 B-Side: 50Released: August 26, 1996 B-Side: "Permanent Dragon"781997"Songwriter"Released: August 27, 1997 B-Side: 63Released: December 25, 1997 B-Side: (Live)861998Released: February 5, 1998 B-Side: 86Released: September 25, 1998 B-Side: "Saint Petersburg" (Live)731999"Happy Time, Happy Song"Released: February 5, 1999 B-Sides: 68Released: November 25, 1999 B-Sides: , 892001"Close to Me"Released: January 24, 2001 B-Sides: , 68"Superfaker"Released: September 26, 2001 B-Sides: , 892006Released: February 22, 2006 B-Side: "I Love You"54Released: November 29, 2006 B-Sides: "Cherry", 562010Released: February 10, 2010 B-Sides: "Bye Bye Bye"562011"Listen to the Music"Released: December 7, 2011 B-Side: "Christmas Song"702020"Pop Music"Released: February 26, 2020 B-side: "KAN's Christmas Song"32
Albums Studio albums Year DetailsPeak chart positions JPNNote: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information are currently unavailable1987Released: April 25, 1987 Label: Polydor—No-No-Yesman Released: October 25, 1987 Label: Polydor—1988Girl to Love Released: June 25, 1988 Label: Polydor861989Released: June 21, 1989 Label: Polydor891990Released: July 25, 1990 Label: Polydor21991Released: May 22, 1991 Label: Polydor21993Tokyoman Released: February 25, 1993 Label: Polydor3Released: December 10, 1993 Label: Polydor131994Released: November 26, 1994 Label: Polydor211996Man Released: May 27, 1996 Label: Polydor121998Tigersongwriter Released: March 5, 1998 Label: Warner Music Japan241999Kremlinman Released: April 21, 1999 Label: Warner Music Japan312001Gleam and Squeeze Released: September 26, 2001 Label: BMG Funhouse492006Released: August 30, 2006 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima272010Released: March 10, 2010 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima24 Live albums Year DetailsPeak chart positions JPN2008Released: November 19, 2008 Label: zetima42 Compilation albums Year DetailsPeak chart positions JPN1992Released: February 28, 1992 Label: Polydor41997The Best Singles First Decade Released: September 3, 1997 Label: Polydor/Mercury311999Treasure Collection Released: June 30, 1999 Label: PolyGram—2004Golden Best Released: February 25, 2004 Label: Universal Japan—2005KAN: Best 10 Released: November 9, 2005 Label: Universal—2007Ideas: The Very Best of KAN Released: November 28, 2007 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima382010Songs out of Bounds Released: October 27, 2010 Label: Up-Front Works/zetima78
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