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Ai wa Katsu

"Ai wa Katsu" (愛は勝つ, literally "Love will win") is a pop song written and recorded by Japanese singer-songwriter Kan[a], released as his eighth single in September 1990. It was initially featured on his album Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta.[1] The song became his first charting hit and the most successful single, selling over two million copies. It has been considered his signature song.

"Ai wa Katsu"
Single by Kan
from Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta"
B-side"Soredemo Furarete shimau Yatsu"
ReleasedSeptember 1, 1990 (Japan)
Recorded1990
GenreJ-pop
Length4:07
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Kan
Kan singles chronology
""Kenzen Anzen Kōseinen"
(1990) 		Ai wa Katsu ""In the Name of Love"
(1991)
"Ai wa Katsu" at YouTube

Release

"Ai wa Katsu" is the first track of Yakyu Senshu ga Yume datta, Kan's fifth studio album released on July 25, 1990. Inspired by one of his most respected American singer Billy Joel, he wished to write a song as upbeat as Joel's Uptown Girl. "Ai wa Katsu" was the opening theme of a quiz show of TV Asahi in summer 1990, and released as the second single from the album.

For promotion, "Ai wa Katsu" first got intensive airplay on Kansai district's radio stations. The song had more attention in other Japanese regions, giving him the first chart entry. It was featured on the popular variety show Yamada Katsutenai TV of Fuji Television, lifting the single to the summit of the Oricon Albums Chart by December 1990.

Cover versions

  • On August 28, 1991, Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung covered it under 壯志驕陽 ("An Aspiring Sun") for his album 一顆不變心 ("An Unwavering Heart")
  • On October 6, 2010, voice actor Shintarō Asanuma covered it for "Ōkami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi – Character Song Album – Otogi Songs Best 10".
  • On May 25, 2011, voice actor Jun Fukuyama covered it for his third album "Fukuyama Jun, Ai wo Utau!".

Other media

  • The song was performed by the main character Jiro Suzuki in episode 6 of the anime カラオケ戦士マイク次郎 ("Karaoke Senshi Mike Jirou").[b]
  • On May 6, 2020, staff of the Shizuoka Gakuen Junior and Senior High School performed the song to encourage students during COVID-19. The video has been uploaded to its official YouTube channel.

Track listing

All songs written 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.[2]

Awards

Japan Record Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1991 "Ai wa Katsu"[3] Japan Record Award – Pop/Rock Won
Gold Disc Prize – Pop/Rock Won

Japan Gold Disc Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1991 "Ai wa Katsu"[4] The Best 5 Singles of Year Won

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990–91) Position
Japanese Oricon Chart[5] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1991) Position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[6][better source needed] 3

All-time charts

Chart (1968–2010) Position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[7][8] 23

Certifications

Country Provider Title Certification
(sales thresholds) 		Format Date
Japan RIAJ "Ai wa Katsu" 2× Million[9] CD Single 1991

Related pages

Footnotes

  1. ↑ He died on November 12, 2023 of Meckel's diverticulum at the age of 61.
  2. ↑ Aired in 1994–95.

References

  1. ↑ "Kan Official Web Site > Discography". KAN オフィシャルウェブサイト 【ディスコグラフィー】 (in Japanese). October 21, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. ↑ Yakyū Senshu ga Yume datta (CD liner notes). Kan. Polydor Records. 1990. POCH-1015. 
  3. ↑ 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  4. ↑ "Recording Industry Association of Japan – List of the 5th Gold Disc Award Winners". 第5回日本ゴールドディスク大賞 (in Japanese). October 21, 2012. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. ↑ "Highest position and charting weeks of Ai wa Katsu by KAN". oricon.co.jp. KAN-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved October 22, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  6. ↑ "Oricon Year-end Singles (1991)". 1991年 シングル年間TOP100 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  7. ↑ "All-Time Best-selling Singles Ranking". 歴代シングルランキング (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 27, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  8. ↑ Okamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 978-4871310888.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  9. ↑ "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. Archived from the original on May 23, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
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