Ken Hirai discography

The discography of Japanese R&B and pop singer Ken Hirai consists of ten studio albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, three cover albums, thirteen video albums and numerous singles and promotional singles. Hirai debuted as a musician under Sony Music Records in 1995 with the single "Precious Junk", but found success five years later with the single "Lakuen" and his third album, The Changing Same.

Ken Hirai discography
Studio albums	10
Compilation albums	2
Tribute albums	3
Singles	40
Video albums	13
Remix album	1

Hirai's success continued through the 2000s, with the single "Ōki na Furudokei" (2002), a Japanese-language version of "My Grandfather's Clock", an 1876 song by American composer Henry Clay Work, "Hitomi o Tojite" (2004), the theme song for the film Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World and "Pop Star" (2005), the theme song of the Misaki Ito-starring drama Kiken na Aneki.

In addition to his studio albums, Hirai has released a series of acoustic cover albums entitled Ken's Bar, named after a series of concept live concerts he performs.

Studio albums

All release dates pertain to their release in Japan, unless stated.

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions				Sales (JPN)[1][A]	Certifications
		JPN [2]	KOR Overseas [3][B][C]	TWN [7][D]	TWN East Asian [8][E][F]
Un-balanced	Released: July 7, 1995 Label: Sony Music Records Formats: CD, cassette, digital download	57	—	—	—	18,000
Stare At	Released: December 1, 1996 Label: Sony Formats: CD, cassette, digital download	—	—	—	—
The Changing Same	Released: June 21, 2000 Label: Sony, DefStar Records Formats: CD, cassette, digital download	1	—	—	—	1,265,000	RIAJ: Million[9]
Gaining Through Losing	Released: July 4, 2001 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, cassette, digital download	1	—	—	—	1,081,000	RIAJ: Million[G][10][11]
Life Is...	Released: January 22, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, cassette, digital download	1	—	—	—	806,000	RIAJ: Million[12]
Sentimentalovers	Released: November 24, 2004 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, cassette, digital download	1	—	—	1	1,661,000	RIAJ: Million[13]
Fakin' Pop	Released: March 12, 2008 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, digital download	2	—	6	2	332,000	RIAJ: 2× Platinum[14]
Japanese Singer	Released: June 8, 2011 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download	3	10	—	12	141,000	RIAJ: Gold[15]
The Still Life	Released: July 6, 2016 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download	4	—	—	—	72,000
Anata ni Naritakatta (あなたになりたかった; I Wish I Were You)	Released: May 12, 2021 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray, digital download	2	—	—	—	25,521 (physical)
"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts, or items that did not chart.

Compilation albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions				Sales (JPN)[1]	Certifications
		JPN [2]	KOR Overseas [3][C]	TWN [7]	TWN East Asian [8][H]
Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 Utabaka (歌バカ; "Song Fool")	Released: November 23, 2005 Label: DefStar Formats: 2CD, Blu-spec CD, digital download	1	—	3	1	2,107,000	RIAJ: 2× Million[16]
Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary c/w Collection '95-'10 "Ura Utabaka" (裏　歌バカ; "Reverse Song Fool")	Released: November 10, 2010 Label: DefStar Formats: 2CD, 3CD, digital download	5	51	—	15	44,000
Ken Hirai Singles Best Collection Utabaka 2" (歌バカ 2; "Song Fool 2")	Released: November 10, 2010 Label: DefStar Formats: 3CD, 4CD, 3CD+DVD, digital download	2	—	—	—	77,000
"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts, or items that did not chart.

Remix album

List of remix albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Sales (JPN)[1]	Certifications
		JPN [2]
KH Re-mixed Up 1	Released: November 28, 2001 Label: DefStar Formats: 2CD, cassette	6	186,000	RIAJ: Gold[17]

Cover albums

List of cover albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions				Sales (JPN)[1]	Certifications
		JPN [2]	KOR [18]	KOR Overseas [3][C]	TWN East Asian [8][I]
Ken's Bar	Released: December 10, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, Blu-spec CD, digital download	2	—	—	—	492,000	RIAJ: 2× Platinum[19]
Ken's Bar II	Released: May 27, 2009 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download	2	—	—	6	122,000	RIAJ: Gold[20]
Ken's Bar III	Released: May 28, 2014 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, 2CD, CD/DVD, digital download	4	22	68	6	58,000
"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions				Sales (JPN)[1]	Certifications	Album
		Oricon Singles Charts [2]	Billboard Japan Hot 100 [21][J][K]	TWN [7]	TWN East Asian [8][L]
"Precious Junk"	1995	50	—	—	—	44,000		Un-balanced
"Katahō Zutsu no Earphone" (片方ずつのイヤフォン; "One Side of an Earphone Each")		—	—	—	—
"Yokogao" (横顔; "Face in Profile")		—	—	—	—			Stare At
"Doshaburi" (ドシャブリ; "Downpour")	1996	—	—	—	—
"Stay with Me"		—	—	—	—
"Heat Up"	1997	—	—	—	—			Non-album single
"Love Love Love"	1998	—	—	—	—			The Changing Same
"Lakuen"	2000	7	—	—	—	549,000	RIAJ: (physical): Platinum[37] RIAJ (download): Gold[38]
"Why"		8	—	—	—	211,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[37]
"Love or Lust"		6	—	—	—	264,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[39]	Gaining Through Losing
"Even If"		3	—	—	—	333,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[40] RIAJ (download): Gold
"Miracles"	2001	4	—	—	—	240,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[41]
"Kiss of Life"		2	—	—	—	555,000	RIAJ (physical): Platinum[42]
"Missin' You (It Will Break My Heart)"	2002	4	—	—	—	115,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[43]	Life Is...
"Strawberry Sex"		13	—	—	—	49,000
"Ōki na Furudokei" (大きな古時計; "The Large Old Clock")		1	—	—	—	772,000	RIAJ (physical): 2× Platinum[44]
"Ring"		1	—	—	—	322,000	RIAJ (physical): Platinum[44]
"Life Is..."	2003	3	—	—	—	191,000	RIAJ (physical): Platinum[45]
"Style"		12	—	—	—	44,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[45]	Sentimentalovers
"Hitomi o Tojite" (瞳をとじて; "Close Your Eyes")	2004	2	—	—	—	893,000	RIAJ (ringtone): Million[46] RIAJ (physical): 3× Platinum[47] RIAJ (cellphone): Platinum[48] RIAJ (PC): 2×Platinum[49]
"Kimi wa Tomodachi" (キミはともだち; "You're My Friend")		5	—	—	—	161,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[50]
"Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni..." (思いがかさなるその前に…; "Before the Thoughts Pile Up...")		1	—	—	—	272,000	RIAJ (ringtone): 2× Platinum[46] RIAJ (physical): Platinum[51] RIAJ (download): Gold[52]
"Pop Star"	2005	1	91[M]	—	—	244,000	RIAJ (ringtone): Million[46] RIAJ (cellphone): 2× Platinum[54] RIAJ (physical): Platinum[55] RIAJ (streaming): Gold[56]	Utabaka / Fakin' Pop
"Bye My Melody" (バイマイメロディー, Baimaimerodī)	2006	2	—	—	—	81,000	RIAJ (physical): Gold[57]	Fakin' Pop
"Elegy" (哀歌(エレジー), Erejī)	2007	5	—	—	—	119,000	RIAJ (cellphone): Platinum[58] RIAJ (physical): Gold[59]
"Kimi no Suki na Toko" (君の好きなとこ; "Your Favorite Places")		5	—	—	—	103,000	RIAJ (cellphone): Platinum[60] RIAJ (physical): Gold[61] RIAJ (streaming): Gold[62]
"Fake Star"		6	—	—	—	32,000	RIAJ (download): Gold[52]
"Canvas" (キャンバス, Kyanbasu)	2008	6	5	—	—	40,000	RIAJ (cellphone): Gold[63]
"Kimi wa Suteki" (君はス・テ・キ♥; "You're Lovely")			80
"Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo"		19	17	—	—	19,000	RIAJ (cellphone): Gold[63]
"Candy"	2009	7	2	—	—	14,000		Japanese Singer
"Boku wa Kimi ni Koi o Suru"		3	1	—	16	70,000	RIAJ (cellphone): 2× Platinum[64]
"Sing Forever"	2010	7	5	—	—	16,000
"Aishiteru"		9	12	—	—	34,000	RIAJ (cellphone): Gold[64]
"Itoshiki Hibi yo"	2011	7	6	—	—	31,000	RIAJ (download): Platinum[52]
"Kokuhaku" (告白; "Love Confession")	2012	5	6	—	—	44,000	RIAJ (download): Gold[52]	The Still Life
"Kikyō ga Oka" (桔梗が丘; "Bellflower Hill")	2013	—	16	—	—
"Grotesque" (グロテスク, Gurotesuku) (featuring Namie Amuro)	2014	4	4	17	3	51,000	RIAJ (download): Platinum
"Onnaji Samishisa" (おんなじさみしさ; "The Same Sadness")		13	—[N]	—	12	13,000
"Soredemo Shitai" (ソレデモシタイ; "Still Want to")			10	—
"Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai" (君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない; "Your Heartbeat Can Only Beat for You")	2015	18	18	—	—	11,000
"Plus One"	2016	15	20	—	—	10,000
"Time"			54	—	—
"Mahotte Itte Ii Kana?" (魔法って言っていいかな?; "Speaking of Magic, Isn't it Nice?")		15	4	—	—	12,000	RIAJ (download): Platinum
"Boku no Kokoro wo Tsukutteyo" (僕の心をつくってよ; "Make My Mind")	2017	7	7	—	—	17,000		Ken Hirai Singles Best Collection Utabaka 2
"Nonfiction"		10	5	—	—	18,000	RIAJ (download): Platinum RIAJ (streaming): Gold[66]
"Todokanaikara" (トドカナイカラ)	2018	18	13	—	—	7,000		Anata ni Naritakatta
"Shiranaindesho?" (知らないんでしょ？, "You Don't Know, Right?")		16	35	—	—	7,000
"Half of Me"		15	17	—	—	13,000	RIAJ (download): Gold
"Itemotattemo" (いてもたっても, "Can't Stand Still")	2019	—	39	—	—
"#302"		11	18	—	—	9,000
"Kaibutsusan" (怪物さん, "Mr. Monster") (featuring Aimyon)	2020	—	15	—	—		RIAJ (streaming): Silver

Promotional singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		Billboard Japan Hot 100 [21][O]
"K.O.L."	2000	—	The Changing Same
"Gaining Through Losing"	2001	—	Gaining Through Losing
"One Love Wonderful World"		—	KH Re-mixed Up 1
"Come Back"	2003	—	Life Is...
"Sekai de Ichiban Kimi ga Suki?" (世界で一番君が好き？; "Do I Like You Most in the World?")		—
"The Rose"		—	Ken's Bar
"Lovin' You"		—
"Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o"		—
"You've Got a Friend"		—
"Faith"		—
"When You Wish upon a Star"		—
"ABC"		—
"Sentimental" (センチメンタル, Senchimentaru)	2004	—	Sentimentalovers
"Utsukushii Hito" (美しい人; "Beautiful Person")	2007	—	Fakin' Pop
"Shashin" (写真; "Photograph")	2008	49
"Stardust" (with Hibari Misora)	2009	54	Ken's Bar II
"Because of You"		69
"Love (Destiny)"		77
"Heart of Mine"		68
"Wakareuta" (with Masamune Kusano)		91
"Yume no Mukō de" (夢のむこうで; "On the Other Side of a Dream")	2011	—	Japanese Singer
"Girls 3x"		—
"Virtual Insanity"	2014	—[P]	Ken's Bar III
"1995"	2021	—	Anata ni Naritakatta

Video albums

Music video collections

List of media, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions
		JPN [2]
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 1	Released: December 1, 1996 Label: Sony Formats: VHS, DVD	—
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 2	Released: June 21, 2000 Label: Sony Formats: DVD, VHS	—
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 3	Released: July 4, 2001 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD	17
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 5	Released: January 22, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD	14
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 7	Released: November 24, 2004 Label: DefStar Records Formats: DVD	5
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 9	Released: April 23, 2008 Label: DefStar Records Formats: DVD	49
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 12	Released: May 30, 2012 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD	4
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 12	Released: May 12, 2021 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray	TBA

Live concerts

List of media, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak positions
		JPN [2]
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 4: Live Tour 2001 Gaining Through Losing at the Budokan	Released: January 30, 2002 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD	3
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 6: MTV Unplugged Ken Hirai	Released: December 20, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD	8
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 8: Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena	Released: December 7, 2005 Label: DefStar Formats: Blu-ray, DVD	9
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 10: Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 Fakin' Pop	Released: December 17, 2008 Label: DefStar Formats: Blu-ray, DVD	18
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 11: Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary	Released: June 10, 2009 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD	6
Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary Christmas Eve Special!	Released: June 10, 2009 Label: DefStar Formats: Blu-ray	6
Ken Hirai Films Vol. 13: Ken Hirai 20th Anniversary Opening Special at Zepp Tokyo	Released: March 23, 2016 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray	19
Ken Hirai Films Vol.14 Ken’s Bar 20th Anniversary Special	Released: December 5, 2018 Label: Ariora Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray	17

Other appearances

List of non-studio album or guest appearances that feature Ken Hirai

Title	Year	Album
"Moonstruck" (Chaka with Ken Hirai)	1996	With Friends
"Holding On to Promises" (Gerry DeVeaux featuring Ken Hirai)		Back to You
"Kimi ga Warattara" (君が笑ったら; "If You Laugh")	1998	Setsunai: Tokyo Heart Break Original Soundtrack
"Scent of Woman (Yume no Kaori)" (夢の香り; "Scent of Dreams") (K Dub Shine featuring Ken Hirai)	2000	Ikiru
"Eyes on You" (Akina Nakamori)	2002	Resonancia
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"	2003	Conception: Stevie Wonder Tribute
"Got Me a Feeling" (Bonnie Pink featuring Ken Hirai)	2005	Reminiscence
"Tokyo Pierrot" (東京ピエロ; "Tokyo Clown") (Ohashi Trio featuring Ken Hirai)	2012	White
"Sayonara Restaurant" (さよならレストラン; "Goodbye Restaurant") (Toko Furuuchi featuring Ken Hirai)	2013	And Then...: 20th Anniversary Best

Notes

1. Sales provided by Oricon database and are rounded to the nearest thousand copies.
2. The Gaon Albums Chart was established in 2010.
3. Week references for Gaon: Japanese Singer,^[4] Ura Utabaka,^[5] Ken's Bar III.^[6]
4. The G-Music chart was established in July 2005 and only archives the top 20 releases.
5. The G-Music East Asian chart is a sub-chart, so releases listed may not have charted on the main top 20.
6. Position was taken from 2005 week 30 for Sentimentalovers, 2008 week 11 for Fakin' Pop, 2011 week 24 for Japanese Singer.
7. Gaining Through Losing received a 3× Platinum certification for 1,200,000 copies, however the 3× Platinum threshold was redefined as 750,000 copies in 2003.
8. Position was taken from 2005 week 46 for Utabaka, 2010 week 46 for Ura Utabaka.
9. Position was taken from 2009 week 25 for Ken's Bar II, 2014 week 45 for Ken's Bar III.
10. The Japan Hot 100 was established in February 2008.
11. Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Canvas",^[22] "Kimi wa Suteki",^[23] "Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo",^[24] "Candy",^[25] "Boku wa Kimi ni Koi o Suru",^[26] "Sing Forever",^[27] "Aishiteiru",^[28] "Itoshiki Hibi yo",^[29] "Kokuhaku",^[30] "Kikyō ga Oka",^[31] "Grotesque",^[32] "Soredemo Shitai",^[33] "Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai",^[34] "Plus One",^[35] "Time".^[35]
12. Position was taken from 2009 week 43 for "Boku wa Kimi ni Koi o Suru", 2014 week 15 for "Grotesque", "Soredemo Shitai/Onnaji Samishisa".^[36]
13. Charted in 2008.^[53]
14. Charted at number 65 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart.^[65]
15. Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Shashin",^[67] "Stardust",^[68] "Because of You",^[68] "Love (Destiny)",^[68] "Heart of Mine",^[69] "Wakareuta".^[68]
16. Charted at number 17 on the Adult Alternative Airplay subchart, and at number 51 on the Hot Top Airplay chart.^[70][71]