Hirai Ken

Hirai Ken promoting "Anata ni Naritakatta" (2021)

Hirai Ken (平井堅) is a Japanese R&B-pop singer-songwriter under the Ariola Japan label.

Profile

• Name: Hirai Ken (平井堅)
• Birthday: January 17, 1972 (1972-01-17)
• Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture, Japan
• Grew Up In: Nabari, Mie Prefecture, Japan
• Height: 183cm
• Weight: 70kg

Information

Hirai Ken was discovered at a SMEJ audition in 1992 where he became an award winner. In 1995 he debuted with the single "Precious Junk", which was the theme to a TV Drama earning it some moderate success. 1998 was a real turning point in his career when, with his 7th single "Love Love Love", Ken went from singing what he had to sing, to what he really wanted to sing. The next single, "LAKuEN", did well in the Oricon charts and earned him a fair amount of attention. To date he has released 8 albums and two 'concept albums', Ken's Bar and Ken's Bar II, albums of covers done in Ken's own style. His music incorporates influences from a soulful gospel sound, based on 70's soul, to contemporary R&B, jazz, funk, and hip-hop. His musical style and unique voice has won scores of fans all across Asia (his 4th album gaining through losing, released in 2001, reached 1.5 million sales all over Asia).

Discography

Hirai Ken promoting "POP STAR" (2005)

Hirai Ken promoting "Bye My Melody" (2006)

Hirai Ken promoting "fake star" (2007)

Hirai Ken promoting "Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo" (2008)

Hirai Ken promoting "CANDY" (2009)

Hirai Ken promoting "Aishiteru" (2010)

Hirai Ken promoting JAPANESE SINGER (2011)

Hirai Ken promoting "Plus One / TIME" (2016)

Hirai Ken promoting "Nonfiction" (2017)

Studio Albums

• [1995.07.07] un-balanced
• [1996.12.01] Stare At
• [2000.06.21] THE CHANGING SAME
• [2001.07.04] gaining through losing
• [2003.01.22] LIFE is...
• [2004.11.24] SENTIMENTALovers
• [2008.03.12] FAKIN' POP
• [2011.06.08] JAPANESE SINGER
• [2016.07.06] THE STILL LIFE
• [2021.05.12] Anata ni Naritakatta (あなたになりたかった; I Wish I Were You)

Best Albums

• [2005.11.23] Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 "Utabaka" (歌バカ; Musical Idiot)
• [2010.11.10] Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary c/w Collection '95-'10 "Ura Utabaka" (裏歌バカ; B-side Musical Idiot)
• [2017.07.12] Ken Hirai Singles Best Collection Utabaka 2 (歌バカ; Musical Idiot)

Cover Albums

• [2003.12.10] Ken's Bar
• [2009.05.27] Ken's Bar II
• [2014.05.28] Ken's Bar III

Remix Album

• [2001.11.28] Kh re-mixed up 1

Singles

• [1995.05.13] Precious Junk
• [1995.06.21] Katahō Zutsu no Earphone (片方ずつのイヤフォン; One-sided Earphone)
• [1995.11.22] Yokogao (横顔; Face in Profile)
• [1996.08.21] Doshaburi (ドシャブリ; Downpour)
• [1996.11.01] Stay With Me
• [1997.07.21] HEAT UP
• [1998.05.30] Love Love Love
• [2000.01.09] LAKuEN (楽園; Paradise)
• [2000.05.10] why
• [2000.10.18] LOVE OR LUST
• [2000.12.06] even if
• [2001.02.15] Miracles
• [2001.05.16] KISS OF LIFE
• [2002.01.30] Missin' you ~It will break my heart~
• [2002.05.22] Strawberry Sex
• [2002.08.28] Ōki na Furudokei (大きな古時計; A Big Old Clock)
• [2002.11.07] Ring
• [2003.05.08] LIFE is... ~another story~
• [2003.07.30] style
• [2004.04.28] Hitomi wo Tojite (瞳をとじて; Close Your Eyes)
• [2004.05.19] Kimi wa Tomodachi (キミはともだち; You're My Friend)
• [2004.10.06] Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni... (思いがかさなるその前に...; The Memories Pile Up Before Me)
• [2005.10.26] POP STAR
• [2006.06.14] Bye My Melody (バイマイメロディー)
• [2007.01.17] Elegy (哀歌(エレジー))
• [2007.02.28] Kimi no Suki na Toko (君の好きなとこ; The Place You Like)
• [2007.09.12] fake star
• [2008.02.20] Canvas / Kimi wa Su・te・ki♥ (キャンバス / 君はス・テ・キ♥; Canvas / You are Beau・ti・ful♥)
• [2008.04.23] Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo (いつか離れる日が来ても; The Day May Come When Someday We Shall Part)
• [2009.09.23] CANDY
• [2009.10.21] Boku wa Kimi ni Koi wo Suru (僕は君に恋をする; I Fall in Love With You)
• [2010.10.13] Sing Forever
• [2010.11.10] Aishiteru (アイシテル; I Love You)
• [2011.05.04] Itoshiki Hibi yo (いとしき日々よ; Oh Endearing Days)
• [2012.05.30] Kokuhaku (告白; Confession)
• [2014.04.02] Grotesque feat. Amuro Namie (グロテスク)
• [2014.12.10] Soredemo Shitai / Onnaji Samishisa (ソレデモシタイ／おんなじさみしさ; I Still Wanna Do It / Same Loneliness)
• [2015.08.05] Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai (君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない; Only You Can Hear Your Heartbeat)
• [2016.05.25] Plus One / TIME
• [2016.06.22] Mahoutte Itte Ii Kana? (魔法って言っていいかな？; It's Nice to Talk About Magic, Isn't It?)
• [2017.03.01] Boku no Kokoro wo Tsukutte yo (僕の心をつくってよ; Make My Heart)
• [2017.06.07] Nonfiction (ノンフィクション)
• [2018.05.30] Todokanai Kara (トドカナイカラ; I Can't Reach You)
• [2018.05.30] Shiranaindesho? (知らないんでしょ？; You Don't Know, Right?)
• [2018.11.28] half of me
• [2019.12.04] #302

Digital Singles

• [2013.10.23] Kikyōgaoka (桔梗が丘; Bellflower Hill)
• [2014.10.29] Onnaji Samishisa (おんなじさみしさ; Same Loneliness)
• [2015.07.19] Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai (Drama ver.) (君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない (ドラマver.); Only You Can Hear Your Heartbeat)
• [2019.05.29] Itemo Tattemo (いてもたっても; Can't Control Myself)
• [2020.03.26] Kaibutsu-san feat. Aimyon (怪物さん; Mr./Ms. Monster)

Video Releases

• [1996.12.01] Ken Hirai Films Vol.1
• [2000.06.21] Ken Hirai Films Vol.2
• [2001.07.04] Ken Hirai Films Vol.3
• [2002.01.30] Ken Hirai Films Vol.4 LIVE TOUR 2001 gaining through losing at the BUDOKAN
• [2003.01.22] Ken Hirai Films Vol.5
• [2003.12.10] Ken Hirai Films Vol.6 MTV UNPLUGGED KEN HIRAI
• [2004.11.24] Ken Hirai Films Vol.7
• [2005.12.07] Ken Hirai Films Vol.8 "Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena"
• [2008.04.23] Ken Hirai Films Vol.9
• [2008.12.17] Ken Hirai Films Vol.10 Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 FAKIN' POP
• [2009.06.10] Ken Hirai Films Vol.11 Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary
• [2012.05.30] Ken Hirai Films Vol.12
• [2016.03.23] Ken Hirai Films Vol.13 『Ken Hirai 20th Anniversary Opening Special !! at Zepp Tokyo』
• [2018.12.05] Ken Hirai Films Vol.14 Ken’s Bar 20th Anniversary Special !!
• [2021.05.12] Ken Hirai Films Vol.15

Compilations / Other

• [1996.09.21] CHAKA - With Friends (#3 moonstruck) (Chorus & Lyrics)
• [1996.12.21] GERRY DeVEAUX - BACK TO YOU (#11 HOLDING ON TO PROMISES with Hirai Ken)
• [1998.08.26] Setsunai ORIGINAL ALBUM (#11 Kimi ga Warattara)
• [1998.10.21] SKOOP - Mood 4 Luv (#9 Everlasting Love) (Chorus)
• [2000.04.01] Goshima Yoshiko - decade to date (#3 Full Sail) (Chorus)
• [2000.09.13] Saginosu Shiro - SHIRO'S SONGBOOK 2 (#8 SWEET INSPIRATION feat. Hirai Ken)
• [2000.12.13] K DUB SHINE - Ikiru (#7 Yume no Kaori) (Chorus)
• [2002.05.22] Nakamori Akina - Resonancia (#2 Eyes on you) (Chorus)
• [2002.05.29] 2002 FIFA WORLD CUP OFFICIAL ALBUM ~SONGS OF KOREA/JAPAN~ (Disc 1 #6 One Love Wonderful World)
• [2003.03.12] Conception ~Stevie Wonder Tribute (#3 You Are The Sunshine Of My Life)
• [2005.06.22] BONNIE PINK - REMINISCENCE (#4 Got Me A Feeling) (Chorus)
• [2012.09.19] Ohashi Trio - White (#1 Tokyo Piero feat. Hirai Ken)
• [2013.02.06] Furuuchi Toko - Sayonara Restaurant feat. Hirai Ken
• [2013.02.20] Furuuchi Toko - and then... ~20th anniversary BEST~ (Disc 1 #2 Sayonara Restaurant feat. Hirai Ken)
• [2019.01.19] Teshima Aoi - Cheek to Cheek ~I Love Cinemas~
• [2020.10.14] SING for ONE ~Minna to Tsunagaru. Ashita e Tsunagaru.~ (#5 Hirai Ken / Mahoutte Itte Ii Kana?)

Lives

Tours

• [1995.06.08] - [1995.07.07] LIVE CARAVAN
• [1995.12.13] - [1995.12.16] Ken Hirai LIVE TOUR '95 "Yokogao"
• [1997.01.27] - [1997.01.31] Ken Hirai Winter Tour '97 "Stare At"
• [2000.10.17] - [2000.11.12] Ken Hirai LIVE TOUR 2000 "THE CHANGING SAME"
• [2001.08.07] - [2001.10.05] Ken Hirai LIVE TOUR 2001 "gaining through losing"
• [2003.04.15] - [2003.06.15] Ken Hirai LIVE TOUR 2003 "LIFE is..."
• [2005.05.17] - [2005.07.17] Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour
• [2006.07.20] - [2006.08.30] Kh (+) 5th Anniversary Special Ken's Bar Members 06
• [2008.05.02] - [2008.07.20] Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 "FAKIN' POP"

Ken's Bar

• [1998.05.29] - [2000.04.19] Ken's Bar
• [2002.07.07] - [2002.09.07] LIVE TOUR 2002 "Ken's Bar"
• [2003.07.07] Ken's Bar 5th Anniversary Special vol.1
• [2003.12.22] - [2003.12.23] Ken's Bar 5th Anniversary Special vol.2
• [2004.07.07] - [2004.07.30] "Ken's Bar 2004"
• [2004.12.18] - [2004.12.26] Ken's Bar 2004 Winter
• [2005.12.20] Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Ken's Bar Special in TOKYO DOME
• [2006.07.07] Tanabata Ken's Bar
• [2006.12.19] Ken Hirai Ken's Bar 2006 Winter
• [2007.07.07] - [2007.08.16] Ken's Bar 2007
• [2007.12.23] Ken Hirai Ken's Bar 2007 Winter
• [2008.05.29] Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary
• [2008.12.24] Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary Christmas Eve Special!
• [2009.02.14] Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary Valentine Special!
• [2009.07.07] - [2009.08.30] Ken's Bar 2009
• [2009.12.23] Ken's Bar 2009 Winter
• [2010.05.13] Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary Special!! Vol.1 Ken's Bar 2010
• [2010.07.07] - [2010.08.21] Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary Special!! Vol.2 Ken's Bar 2010 Summer
• [2010.08.25] - [2010.08.26] Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary Special!! Vol.3 Ken's Bar in N.Y.
• [2010.12.23] Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary Special!! Vol.4 at Kyocera Dome Osaka

External Links

• Hirai Ken Official Website
• Sony Music Official Profile
• Fanclub Official Facebook
• Fanclub Official Twitter
• Staff Official Twitter
• Official Youtube