Ken Hirai

Biography

Ken Hirai (平井 堅, Hirai Ken; born January 17, 1972) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. Since his debut, Hirai has worked as a model, actor, composer, lyricist, singer, and brand ambassador.
During his career, Hirai has released forty-seven singles and eleven studio albums as of January 2024. According to Oricon, his single Hitomi o Tojite (Close Your Eyes) became the best-selling single of 2004 in Japan, while his compilation album Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95–'05 "Utabaka" became the best-selling album of 2006 in Japan.

Early life

Born on January 17, 1972, in Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Ken Hirai grew up in Nabari, Mie.

1995–2000: Un-balanced, Stare At, The Changing Same

Signing with Sony, he released his first single in 1995, but to no great success. Hirai used the next four years to consolidate his style and take time out – he only released one single each in 1997 and 1998, and did not produce any new music during 1999. Fans waited until 2000 for a third album from Hirai, The Changing Same×THE CHANGING SAME21 June 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Introduction -HERE COMES K.H.-0:242Love Love Love5:283why5:494affair5:185the flower is you5:106Interlude -BRIGHTEN UP-1:177K.O.L.4:278LADYNAPPER5:349Unfit In Love4:5410wonderful world4:5311Interlude -TURN OFF THE LIGHTS-0:4312楽園5:3513アオイトリ4:5714The Changing Same -変わりゆく変わらないもの-5:48. It was the first single, "Rakuen" (楽園; Paradise), that established him as a major player in the Japanese sales charts and overseas. Hirai was voted "Best New Japanese Act" in a pop poll organized by the RTHK radio station in Hong Kong.

2001–2003: Gaining Through Losing, Life Is...

Hirai's 1st remix album, Kh Re-mixed Up 1 was released on November 28, 2001. Through the album, the artist showed a new part of himself to the audience, which appealed to club-goers and DJs for the first time. In the summer of that same year, Hirai earned the title of Best Male Artist at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards Japan, and appeared at the official FIFA World Cup 2002 concert with Chemistry and Lauryn Hill.
Already an established star, Hirai went one step further when he released a cover of "Ōki na Furudokei" (大きな古時計; A Big Old Clock); a Japanese version of "My Grandfather's Clock" by Henry Clay Work) in 2002. A popular nursery rhyme, it was expected to be a minor success, but went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year.
In 2003, Hirai performed for MTV Unplugged Live in New York; he was the first Japanese male solo vocalist to perform on the show. He was also interviewed by CNN's The Music Room, televised in 210 countries and watched by 230 million viewers. His 5th album Life Is...×LIFE is...22 January 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Strawberry Sex4:302REVOLVER3:433ex‐girlfriend4:194Ring5:195Come Back4:256somebody’s girl4:487I’m so drunk3:468Missin’ you 〜It will break my heart〜4:519世界で一番君が好き ?5:3110メモリーズ4:3311LIFE is...4:3212大きな古時計4:48, which contains "Strawberry Sex×Strawberry Sex22 May 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Strawberry Sex4:292ex‐girlfriend4:203Missin’ you 〜It will break my heart〜 (remix ascended)6:564Strawberry Sex (less vocal)4:30", "Ring", and "Ōki na Furudokei", was released on January 22, 2003.
On December 1, 2003, the concept album Ken's Bar×Ken's Bar10 December 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Open1:072even if 〜instrumental〜3:513THE ROSE4:484ONE DAY4:135LOVIN’ YOU4:116WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD2:227You’ve Got A Friend3:388Intermission0:479大きな古時計5:4710FAITH3:0011When You Wish Upon A Star4:0312ABC3:3313Don’t Know Why3:1114Close0:4615見上げてごらん夜の星を3:57 was released. On the album, Hirai selected favorite songs and covered them in his own style×style30 July 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1style4:232signal4:453You Are The Sunshine Of My Life4:114style (instrumental)6:53. The music was primarily jazz and blues oriented.

2004–2006: Sentimentalovers

In May 2004, Hirai launched his next album, Sentimentalovers×SENTIMENTALovers24 November 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1思いがかさなるその前に…5:372jealousy4:043言わない関係3:574君が僕に憑依した!!4:265瞳をとじて5:436青春デイズ4:197style4:228signal4:459鍵穴4:1010nostalgia5:2411キミはともだち4:4812センチメンタル5:05. The album spawned four singles, with "Hitomi o Tojite" (瞳をとじて×瞳をとじて28 April 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1瞳をとじて5:432DESPERADO4:043瞳をとじて (Less Vocal)5:41; Close Your Eyes) being the most successful, becoming the highest-selling single of that year.
Hirai's 2005 single, "Pop Star×POP STAR26 October 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1POP STAR4:442ため息キップ4:173POP STAR -less vocal-4:42", was one of his career's biggest hits, reaching number one on the Oricon charts. The video for the song, which featured Hirai playing 7 different characters and animals, became an instant hit. A cover of the song was featured on the rhythm game Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 for the Nintendo DS, and Namco popular drumming game Taiko no Tatsujin 8.

2007–2009: Fakin' Pop, Ken's Bar II

In 2007, Hirai released two singles. Both singles peaked at number 5 on the Oricon charts and sold around 100,000 copies. The first of these was "Elegy", followed by "Kimi no Suki na Toko (Why I Love You)". "Elegy" was a major radio success in Japan. In August 2007, Hirai released his 27th single, titled "Fake Star×fake star12 September 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1fake star3:442fake star 〜Ken’s swingin’ jazz 〜4:313POP STAR×fake star (MASH UP version)5:104fake star (instrumental)3:41".
On February 20, 2008, Hirai released his 28th and 1st double A-side single, titled "Canvas/Kimi wa Suteki (You're Wonderful)". The singles debuted at number six on the Oricon charts. "Canvas" was used as the insert and ending theme song to Fuji TV's Hachimitsu to Clover. It was written and composed by Hirai, and arranged by Tomita Keichi, as was Hirai's 17th single "Ring".
On March 12, 2008, Hirai released his seventh studio album, Fakin' Pop×FAKIN' POP12 March 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1POP STAR4:422君はス・テ・キ♡3:253君の好きなとこ5:274キャンバス5:545Pain4:236fake star3:417UPSET3:108美しい人5:069哀歌(エレジー)5:1910Twenty! Twenty! Twenty!4:4811バイマイメロディー5:1512いつか離れる日が来ても6:3413写真4:47. Hirai then released his 29th single, "Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo" (いつか離れる日が来ても; If One Day I'm Separated From You) on April 23, 2008. The song was a recut single from Fakin' Pop, and used as the theme song for Ano Sora o Oboeteru (あの空をおぼえてる).
On May 27, 2009, Hirai released Ken's Bar II, continuing the concept of creating jazz covers of his favorite Japanese and English songs; these included "Love: Destiny" (Ayumi Hamasaki), "White Lovers" (Keisuke Kawata), and "Because of You" (Ne-Yo). He held a 2009 summer concert tour in Japan under the same name. On September 23, 2009, his 30th single, "Candy×CANDY23 September 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1CANDY4:222フルサ・サイーダ3:093Do it!!5:104CANDY (less vocal)4:20" was released, followed by "Boku wa Kimi ni Koi wo Suru" (僕は君に恋をする; "I'm Going to Fall in Love With You") in October.

2010–2014: 15th anniversary, Japanese Singer

On October 13, 2010, Hirai's 32nd single "Sing Forever×Sing Forever13 October 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Sing Forever5:002太陽4:463HOTEL VAMPIRE4:254CANDY -Suspicious Remix-4:555Sing Forever -less vocal-4:56" was released. His 33rd single, "Aishiteru", was followed by a compilation entitled 'Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary c/w Collection '95–'10 "Ura Utabaka"' that celebrated his fifteenth anniversary in the music industry.
On May 4, 2011, Hirai released a new single "いとしき日々よ×いとしき日々よ4 May 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1いとしき日々よ6:032Run to you4:393いとしき日々よ -less vocal-6:00" for the Japan TV mega hit TV drama JIN-仁. On June 8, 2011, Hirai released his ninth studio album, Japanese Singer×JAPANESE SINGER8 June 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Sing Forever4:592いとしき日々よ6:023CANDY4:214お願いジュリー☆4:075僕は君に恋をする5:106さよならマイ・ラブ4:447R&B3:378Girls 3x4:289アイシテル5:1810BLIND3:4111Miss サマータイム5:0912夢のむこうで5:1513あなたと4:04.
In 2014, he released the third in his series of song covers, Ken's Bar III, and a collaborative single with Namie Amuro called Grotesque.

2015–present: 25th anniversary, The Still Life, Anata ni Naritakatta

On July 6, 2016, Hirai released his tenth studio album The Still Life×THE STILL LIFE6 July 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 25 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Plus One3:302魔法って言っていいかな?4:003告白3:394かわいいの妖怪4:235桔梗が丘4:266Missionary5:197ソレデモシタイ3:398驚異の凡才2:309君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない5:0910ON AIR4:0011おんなじさみしさ5:0512グロテスク3:4713TIME5:2314それでいいな5:05Disc 21君の好きなとこ [STUDIO LIVE 2016]2LIFE is... [STUDIO LIVE 2016]3POP STAR [STUDIO LIVE 2016]4魔法って言っていいかな? [STUDIO LIVE 2016]5告白 MUSIC VIDEO6桔梗が丘 MUSIC VIDEO7グロテスク MUSIC VIDEO8ソレデモシタイ MUSIC VIDEO9君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない MUSIC VIDEO10ON AIR MUSIC VIDEO11Plus One MUSIC VIDEO.
In 2021, Anata ni Naritakatta (あなたになりたかった, I Wanted to be You) was announced as his eleventh studio album, released to commemorate his twenty-fifth anniversary. The album cover, taken with a heavy flash filter, represented the singer's desire to explore ego loss in his art: "I don't really have anything I want to convey, and it's more like I'm erasing my ego." Hirai commented, "I thought that erasing the contents of my face would best express my stance."