Ai wa Katsu

"Ai wa Katsu"
Single by KAN
from the album Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta
B-side "Soredemo Furarete shimau Yatsu"
Released September 1, 1990 (Japan)
Format 8 cm single
Recorded 1990
Genre J-Pop
Length 4:07
Label Polydor
Writer(s) KAN
KAN singles chronology
"Kenzen Anzen Kōseinen"
(1990)		 "Ai wa Katsu"
(1990)		 "In the Name of Love"
(1991)

"Ai wa Katsu" (愛は勝つ literally "Love will win") is a song composed and recorded by Japanese singer-songwriter Kan, released as the artist's eighth single in September 1990. It was initially featured on his album Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta, issued a month before the single came out.[1] The song became the performer's first charting hit and the most successful single with sales of over 2 million copies, and has been regarded as his signature song.

Song information

Release and reception

"Ai wa Katsu" is the lead-off track of Yakyu Senshu ga Yume datta, the composer's fifth studio album which was released in July 25, 1990. It was used as the opening theme of quiz show aired on TV Asahi during the summer 1990, and released as the second single from the album.

Kan had previously released seven singles at the time, but none of them entered the chart. Polydor Records had not anticipated it would be a big hit, and issued only 10,000 copies of CD singles at the first pressing.[2] Therefore, "Ai wa Katsu" had not attained immediate chart success upon its release.

To promote his new album, "Ai wa Katsu" first obtained intensive airplay on radio stations of Kansai district. The song had gradually captured more attention in the country's other regions, providing the artist with the first chart entry. It was also featured on the popular variety show Yamada Katsutenai TV aired on Fuji Television, lifting the single to the summit of the Japanese Oricon sales chart by the end of 1990.

"Ai wa Katsu" spent 8 weeks atop on the Oricon chart, ranking at the number-three on the country's best-selling singles list of 1991. Sales of the single surpassed 2 million during its chart stay of 52 weeks.

Cover versions

Track listing

All songs composed by KAN

No. TitleArranger Length
1. "Ai wa Katsu (愛は勝つ)"  KAN, Shingo Kobayashi 4:07
2. "Soredemo Furarete Shimau Yatsu (それでもふられてしまう男)"  Jun Sato 3:42
3. "Ai wa Katsu (愛は勝つ)" (Karaoke)KAN, Kobayashi 4:07
Total length:
 11:57

Personnel

Credits adapted from Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta album sleeve notes.[3]

Accolades

Japan Record Awards

Year Recipient Award Result
1991 "Ai wa Katsu"[4] Japan Record Award - Pop/Rock style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Gold Disc Prize - Pop/Rock style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won

Japan Gold Disc Awards

Year Recipient Award Result
1991 "Ai wa Katsu"[5] The Best 5 Singles of Year style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1990/91) Position
Japanese Oricon Chart[6] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1991) Position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[7] 3

All-time charts

Chart (1968 – present) Position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[8][9] 23

Certifications

Country Provider Title Certification
(sales thresholds)		 Format Date
Japan RIAJ "Ai wa Katsu" 2× Million[10] CD Single 1991

References

  1. ↑ KAN オフィシャルウェブサイト 【ディスコグラフィー】 "KAN Official Web Site > Discography" (in Japanese). October 21, 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 (in Japanese). January 16, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta (CD liner notes). KAN. Polydor Records. 1990. POCH-1015.
  4. ↑ 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 October 21, 2012.
  5. ↑ 第5回日本ゴールドディスク大賞 "Recording Industry Association of Japan - List of the 5th Gold Disc Award Winners" (in Japanese). October 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ KAN-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of Ai wa Katsu by KAN". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ 1991年　シングル年間TOP100 "Oricon Year-end Singles (1991)" (in Japanese). Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ 歴代シングルランキング "All-Time Best-selling Singles Ranking" (in Japanese). Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  9. ↑ Okamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968-2010 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4871310884.
  10. ↑ 一般社団法人　日本レコード協会 > 各種統計 > その他のデータ > 年度別ミリオンセラー一覧 > 1990年 "(RIAJ - Statistics - Others - Million-Certified Singles - 1990)". riaj.or.jp (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 24, 2010.

External links