Kana Uemura (植村 花菜, Uemura Kana, born 4 January 1983), known professionally as Ka-Na,[1] is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who debuted in 2004. She is best known for her song "Toilet no Kamisama", an acoustic ballad about her grandmother, which became a hit in 2010.

Kana Uemura
植村 花菜
Background information
Born (1983-01-04) 4 January 1983 (age 41)
OriginKawanishi, Hyōgo, Japan
GenresPop, folk
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2004–present
LabelsBellwood (2004)
King Records (2005–present)
Websitewww.clearsky.co.jp/kana

Biography

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Uemura first became interested in music, after watching Julie Andrews performance in the 1965 film The Sound of Music.[2] In 2002, she started learning the guitar, as well as writing her own songs and doing street performances.[2]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album information Chart positions
[3]
Total sales
[4]
2006 Itsumo Waratte Irareru Yō ni (いつも笑っていられるように, "So I Can Always Be Laughing") 77 10,000
2007 Shiawase no Hako o Hiraku Kagi (しあわせの箱を開くカギ, "The Key to Open the Box of Happiness")
  • Released: 4 January 2007
  • Label: King
  • Formats: CD, digital download
120 7,300
Ai to Taiyō (愛と太陽, "Love and the Sun")
  • Released: 7 November 2007
  • Label: King
  • Formats: CD, digital download
62 3,300

Self-cover album

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Year Album information Chart positions
[3]
Total sales
[4]
2010 Kana: My Favorite Things (花菜 ~My Favorite Things~)
  • Self-cover/collaborations album
  • Released: 15 September 2010
  • Label: King (KICS-1213)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
21 22,000

Extended plays

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Year Album information Chart positions
[3]
Total sales
[4]
2004 Kana (花菜)
  • Charted on singles charts
  • Released: 30 June 2004
  • Label: Bellwood (BZCM-1011)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2009 Haru no Sora (春の空, "Spring Sky")
  • Released: 25 March 2009
  • Label: King (KICS-1213)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
80 2,700
2010 Watashi no Kakera-tachi (わたしのかけらたち, "My Pieces")
  • Released: 10 March 2010
  • Label: King (KIZC-59/60)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
10 117,000

Singles

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Release Title Notes Chart positions Oricon
sales
[5]
Album
Oricon singles charts
[5]
Billboard Japan Hot 100
[6]
RIAJ digital tracks
[7]
2005 "Taisetsu na Hito" (大切な人, "Important One") 73 3,000 Itsumo Waratte Irareru Yō ni
"Milk Tea" (ミルクティー, Miruku Tī) 85 3,800
"Kiseki/Koi no Mahō" (キセキ/恋の魔法, "Miracle/The Magic of Love") 75 2,300
2006 "Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara" (やさしさに包まれたなら, "If You Wrap Yourself in Kindness") Yumi Matsutoya cover 49 5,600 Shiawase no Hako o Hiraku Kagi
"Kami Hikōki" (紙ヒコーキ, "Paper Plane") 79 2,000
"Hikari to Kage" (光と影, "Light and Dark") 90 6,200
2007 "Only You" Digital single, written by Sandi Thom Ai to Taiyō
"Anata no Sono Egao wa Ii Hint ni Naru" (あなたのその笑顔はいいヒントになる, "That Face of Yours Is a Good Hint") 85 1,200
2008 "Shalala" (シャララ) 60 34 1,500 Haru no Sora
2009 "Bless/Haru ni Shite Kimi o Omou" (BLESS/春にして君を想う, "BLESS/I Think of You in Spring") Sold only in the Kansai region for the promotion by Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. in February 2009 188 26 400
2010 "Toilet no Kamisama" (トイレの神様, "Goddess in the Toilet") Initially released as a promotional single 1 1 1 137,000 Watashi no Kakera-tachi
2011 "My Favorite Songs/Sekaiichi Gohan" (My Favorite Songs/世界一ごはん, "My Favorite Songs/The World's Best Meal") 41 4,900 TBA
2012 "Message" (メッセージ, Messēji) Theme song of the film "Magic Tree House" 64 3 TBA 1,500

References

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  1. ^ Hanana Records. "Bio". Ka-Na Official Website. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b 植村花菜 アーティスト・プロフィール (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "アーティスト: 植村花菜". Oricon. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 21 April 2011. (subscription only)
  5. ^ a b "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 30 April 2010. (subscription only)
  6. ^ "Hot 100|JAPAN Charts|Billboard JAPAN". Billboard (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  7. ^ 有料音楽配信チャート (in Japanese). RIAJ.
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