hello everyone~
I was wondering if anyone knows this singer... I would like to read your replies on his look once you see his pics ^^ really shocking~
any way.. i want to open a special thread for this guy and so we can share all his news, pictures ..etc



General Information:

Name: 平井堅
Name (romaji): Hirai Ken
Profession: Singer
Birthdate: 1972-Jan-17
Birthplace: Osaka, Japan
Height: 183cm
Weight: 70kg
Star sign: Capricorn
Blood type: A
from wiki.d-addicts.com

You could be forgiven for thinking that Hirai Ken had mixed blood. Tall, handsome, with a decidedly Caucasian profile and curly hair (think skinny Lenny Kravitz without the tatoos), he didn't look anything like the typical Japanese pop singer when he made his debut back in 1993. But as J-Pop started featuring more artists with a distinct R&B flavor in the late 90s, it was Hirai's sultry, exotic appearance as much as his soulful style and piercing falsetto voice that helped propel him to the top.

While still a student in 1992, Hirai took part with 7,500 other hopefuls in an audition with Sony Music in Yokohama. He signed with the label the next year and in 1995 he released his debut single Precious Junk from the album un-balanced. This and his second single, Video Jam, were both used as theme songs for TV dramas, a sure-fire way to boost sales. His first national tour followed at the end of the year. He recorded his second album, Stare At, in 1996 to considerable acclaim but that was when Hirai dropped below the radar.
credit to japan-zone.com


Ken Hirai is a talented vocalist. He joined SMEJ audition and became an award winner in 1992. In 1995, he debuted with the single "Precious Junk", which was the theme song for TV drama. Thanks to this media tie-up, the debut single sold relatively well.

In 1998, 7th single "Love Love Love" was released. This gospel-oriented song was actually an epoch-making one for himself, in the sense that since this single release, his performance attitude changed from singing what he had to sing, into what he really wanted to sing.

The new millennium has definitely brought Ken Hirai a good luck. After a year and 8 months of silence, Ken's 8th single "LAKuEN" was created in collaboration for the first time with other writers and composers besides himself. The combination of his mellow voice with the melancholic tune certainly enabled him to touch new ground of "the new millennium style of soul". With the new single marking a longtime hit in the Japanese version of Billboard, ORICON chart, suddenly he found himself in the center of attention. Ken's current sound is formed by a mixture of various music genres, beginning with soulful gospel based on 70's soul, on to contemporary R&B, jazz, funk, and hip hop. His 3rd album "THE CHANGING SAME" was created with the help of top musician-producers of the Japanese black music scene, and his absolute skill as a vocalist, overwhelming power of expression, and vivid chorus-work made the collaboration an absolute success.

In addition, he made a 1st visit to Taiwan in the summer of 2000 to join MTV Taiwan Summer Summit, and performed in front of 30,000 local audience, cheered on by his Taiwanese singer and friend, Wang Lee-Hom. Also, he made a promotion trip to Hong Kong the following March, and won the award of Best Japanese New Act at RTHK! After thus repetitive promotion and event, the 3rd album has been sold with 98,000 copies all over Asia (excluding Japan) up to now!!!
from his official english website

TV Show and Theme Songs:

Canvas from Hachimitsu to Clover (Fuji TV, 2008)
Kimi no Suki na Toko from Enka no Joou (NTV, 2007)
Pop Star from Kiken na Aneki (Fuji TV, 2005)
Kimi wa Tomodachi from Wonderful Life (Fuji TV, 2004)
LIFE is... ~another story~ from Blackjack ni Yoroshiku (TBS, 2003)
Ring from Psycho Doctor (NTV, 2002)
Kiss of Life from Love Revolution (Fuji TV, 2001)
from wiki.d-addicts.com


About Him in Japanese:

生年月日／1972.01.17
大阪生まれ、三重育ち｡
血液型／A型
身長／183cm
好きなアーティスト／Donny Hathaway

95年デビュー。00年リリースの「楽園」で大ブレイク。
以降数々のヒットシングルを連発、シングル「大きな古時計」で社会現象を巻き起こす。また、ベイビーフェイスとの共作シングル「Missin' you～It will break my heart」をリリース、MTV UNPLUGGEDに出演や、スティービー ワンダーの日本公演でサプライズゲストとして共演するなど大物海外アーティストとの交流もあり、名実共に日本を代表する男性ソロシンガーとなる。
04年リリース「瞳をとじて」は、その年の最大のヒット曲となり、同年11月リリースのオリジナルアルバム「SENTIMENTALovers」（売上190万枚）を含め4作連続で100万枚以上の売り上げを記録する。また、ブレイク前から続けている自身のライフワークともなっているコンセプトライブ「Ken's Bar」を展開している。そして、05年に自身10周年を記念して「Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 “歌バカ”」をリリースし、ダブルミリオンを突破した。
from his official website

Videos:
Special Video

Some MVs:
Ken Hirai Come Back
Top Star
Hitomi wo Tojite (I Close My Eyes)
kimi no suki na toko
Why
橫顏
笑顏
片方ずつのイヤフォン
Precious Junk
Stay With Me
DOSHABURI
Style
Fake Star

Download Hirai Ken MVs

Some Concerts:
Gaining Through Losing
君の好きなとこ Live @ Ken's Bar 2006 Winter
君の好きなとこ
What a Wonderful World

Some Interviews:
Ken Hirai - English Interview [Part 1/3]
Ken Hirai - English Interview [Part 2/3]
Ken Hirai - English Interview [Part 3/3]

Websites:
Official Website - Japanese
Official Website - English
Hirai Ken Fan Site

More Pictures:







he is cool, right?

I think I saw a performance of him before.... he's quite popular in Japan, isn't he? Is he Japanese? He looks Mid-Eastern to me.

Been his fan since his debut...

Thanks for starting this thread....

i like his songs =D but hvn't listened to them for ages >_< anyway, i still remember his voice awesome ne~!

I like Ken's older music than his present one (except Fake Star) but seriously his songs s*cks now. Such a waste to that vocal talent.

Vote for Ken Hirai for Best Male Artist at J-wave's Tokio Hot 100 Award

To vote you need to fill in following info (actually it can be just random just don't leave any blank)

(1) Radio Name (nickname)
(2) Tokio Hot 100 message - any message will do even if it is in English
(3) Receive Special Stuffs - can choose either of the two
(4) For J-Wave's members - leave it blank
(5) J-wave's Profile Info
(a) Name - any will do
( Zip Code - any zip code will do
© Prefecture - just choose what you want
(d) Address - you can put your own
(e) Telephone Number - again you can put random numbers
(f) Year of Birth
(g) Gender
(h) Occupation - again you can choose one of the selection
(i) Email Address

Then click on the left button and you are done ^^

Hirai Ken's music is beautiful! I love his voice.
Still listening to Hitomi wo Tojite.
And I like that Popstar song! So catchy ^^

There was a ken thread earlier, i think... but thank you for starting a new one nonetheless.

He is absolutely my favourite singer from Japan. He can really carry emotional songs very well, but his light-hearted stuff are great as well. Perfecto.

I really love the song Hitomi wo tojite! oh,and he's a hottay

yes that's true.... i totally agree

^ yup hitomi wo tejite is one of my favs too! ^^

i really like his voice...i was first introduced to his music from watching the drama yoroshiku black jack...his song Life is...another story is the theme...
i think he's really talented and he even is recognized as artist in other places besides asia. i just recently ordered the cd with the collection of his singles from '95-'05, the cd is kinda old already but i haven't gotten around to buying it until now =p

thanks from making this thread and for the awesome links! gonna go check them out when i have more time ^^

i've only heard him sing two songs, strawberry sex and grandfather clock, and the first time i saw him was on Hey!x3 singing strawberry sex. oooh my he's so handsome!!! it's crazy that he's full japanese with his looks.

wait...i thought he speaks english? and it seems like he understand the interviewer so how come he's responding in japanese?

Even though I couldn't post everything about him and all the news.. but this is the least thing i can do for this amazing, hotti guy ^^

Ken Hirai's 7th album under the title FAKIN' POP and will be released on March 12, 2008. The album will include all his singles from POP STAR for a total of 13 songs.


“平井堅”2008年第一弾シングル！ドラマ「ハチミツとクローバー」主題歌！
2007年は、『哀歌(エレジー)』『君の好きなとこ』『fake star』と3枚のシングルをリリース。夏には全国5箇所、クリスマス1箇所の“Ken's Bar”を行い、精力的な活動を行ってきた平井堅。2008年第一弾シングルは、ドラマ「ハチミツとクローバー」の主題歌『キャンバス』。カップリングには「クノールカップスープ」CMソングの『Cry&Smile!!』を収録しています。
◇①『キャンバス』…フジテレビ系ドラマ「ハチミツとクローバー」主題歌（2008年1月8日から放送、毎火21時～／出演：成海璃子、生田斗真、向井理、原田夏希、成宮寛貴ほか／原作：羽海野チカ／ドラマ公式サイト
◇②『君はス・テ・キ＿』…ユニリーバ・ジャパン「リプトンリモーネ」CMソング
◇③『Cry&Smile!!』…「クノールカップスープ」CMソング


Ken Hirai - FAKIN’ POP
平井堅 - FAKIN’ POP



DFCL-1500 (CD)
2008.03.12

1. POP STAR
2. Kimi wa Su-te-ki♡ (君はス・テ・キ♡)
3. Kimi no Suki na Toko (君の好きなとこ)
4. Canvas (キャンバス)
5. Pain
6. fake star
7. UPSET
8. Utsukushii Hito (美しい人)
9. Elegy (哀歌 (エレジー))
10. Twenty! Twenty! Twenty!
11. By My Melody (バイマイメロディー)
12. Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo (いつか離れる日が来ても)
13. Shashin (写真)


credit to http://kenhiraiforum.go-forum.net & http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/detail.asp?goods=DFCL-1500


you can download some of these songs through this website:
http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/detail.asp?goods=DFCL-1500

i still cannot believe hes full japanese! hes so good-looking and he doessssss look caucasain, but i am forgiven

now i wnana check out his music

Ken Hirai!
My friend introduced him to me.
I had the song Popstar in my head for such a while. It had a pretty amusing MV too.

OMG

MY JAPANESE TEACHER LOVES THIS GUY

ahahha

he brought in one of his albums
and we spent nearly 2 lessons just listening
to him ahha

uhm hirai ken is just simply AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG x45645648489.
he is super duper good at lives and i love his ballads.
fantastic singer

Wow I find it hard to believe he is full japanese lol

he looks very caucasian

fell in love with him since 'kiss of life'

i love his voice it's powerful and amazing!
especially in hitomi wo tojite <3

really ? he is 100% japanese ?
cuz he look like a half blood and his pronounce
usually made me think he isn't pure japanese lolz

i just have to saw his latest MV- fakes star- last week
it's cool : D

His music is all right, though I think I like him more for his looks.

Actually , i like him. my former japanese teacher taught my sis to sing a song of his.
LOL.
she said it was fun . HAHA

Is he really 100% Japanese? O.O

I've just found this thread. Maybe I'll get interested in him ^^ I'll listen to some songs later... you've made me curious about his voice! ^^

But I still need time to get used to the fact that he's Japanese.

he looks soo hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

haha revive the thread! I REALLY LOVE HIM. his songs are so beautiful! elegy was so touching and emotional

Ken's voice is gyah-- so sexy! It's altogether powerful and moving! I'm so in love with "Hitomi wo Tojite" right now.
Didn't understand a word of it--except for the english words, of course--but I balled my eyes out the first few times of listening to it.

And I have a certain fascination with his style and his distinct looks. OMGah!

huh this thread died?
anyways
he is really 100%? wth >_>
ii once read an article about him ...2 years ago??
totally forgot him but my friend sent me this one song
"Popstar" dang its SO catchy
and u know what? xD

he was born on 17.1.1972 and me 17.1.1992 u see some similarities ?
XD
and i´m as tall as he dang
i´ll be the next ken hirai!!!
haha jK