She achieved further success with her sophomore and first number-one album, To Love (2010), which was preceded by the singles "Motto...," "Dear...," "Best Friend" and "Aitakute Aitakute" which were all certified "million" for full song downloads of over 1 million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), establishing Nishino as a dominant force on music charts and digital platforms.

In 2016, she won the Grand Prix at the 58th Japan Record Awards for her single "Anata no Suki na Tokoro," the first female solo artist to do so since Koda Kumi in 2005.

[7] On January 8, 2019, Nishino announced an "indefinite" hiatus starting on February 3 of the same year and returned to the music industry in 2024.

After returning home from Los Angeles, she began learning folk songs under the tutelage of an acquaintance of her mother's.

[8][12] In 2006, she signed a contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan and spent three years of high school as a preparation period, learning Tsugaru folk songs, taking vocal training and constantly practicing with her mother.

[10] In 2007, while preparing for her debut, she began to attend an undisclosed university to study English literature.

[13] At the time she met Australian duo Nervo, who offered Nishino a song called "I Don't Wanna Know" for use in her music project.

The song did a lot better on Billboard Japan Hot 100, reaching number 10 on that chart.

[22] After two unsuccessful singles, Nishino was chosen to sing the second ending theme for the anime Soul Eater.

[24] In September 2008, about six months after her debut, she participated in Cyndi Lauper's Japan tour, performing as the opening act at all four venues.

[34] Nishino released her sixth single "Kimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara" on June 3, 2009.

[43] The RIAJ certified the track triple platinum for ringtone downloads of over 750,000 units.

[56] To Love is Nishino's most successful album to date, selling over 750,000 units and staying on the charts for 104 weeks.

[62][45] On December 31, 2010, she competed in the 61st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a member of the red team, marking her first appearance at the prestigious event.

[68] On June 22, 2011, her third studio album Thank you, Love was successful on the Oricon charts by being number 1 during its first week and was certified double platinum.

[72] November 9, 2011, was the day Nishino's fifteenth single "Tatoe Donna ni..." was released.

[80] It was commercially successful on the Oricon Albums Chart,[81] debuting at the runner-up spot and was certified platinum by the RIAJ.

[83] On November 7, 2012, Nishino released her nineteenth single "Always," which was certified gold for selling 100,000 PC downloads.

A month later, she released another single, "Sayonara,"[92] which was certified platinum for selling 250,000 downloads.

[98] She eventually released the ballad "Suki" on October 15, 2014,[99] which was certified platinum for selling 250,000 downloads.

[104] On September 9, 2015, Nishino released another country music-themed single called "Torisetsu,"[105] which was used as the theme song for the movie Heroine Shikkaku.

[114] The song helped her win the Grand Prix at the 58th Japan Record Awards, making her the first female solo artist to do so since Kumi Koda in 2005.

[119] Nishino was selected as a winner of the "2016 ISUM Bridal Music Awards" held on March 15, 2017.

[124] After the lives were complete, Nishino officially became the youngest solo female artist to hold concerts in both of those venues.

[131] On January 8, 2019, Nishino announced on her official website and in her official fan club that she would be taking an indefinite hiatus, which started after her performance at Yokohama Arena for "Kana Nishino Love Collection Live 2019" on February 3, 2019.

[133] She announced her returning to the music industry on June 25, 2024, by releasing the single "EYES ON YOU" on July 5, the EP Love Again on September 18, and holding the concert "Kana Nishino Love Again Live 2024" at Yokohama Arena on November 13 and 14, the same venue as her last concert before her hiatus.

On February 3, the activity was suspended with the performance of "Kana Nishino Love Collection Live 2019" at the Yokohama Arena.

[140] The songs she sang at the audition were "Shooting Star" by Hattan Amika and "The Perfect Vision" by Minmi.

[142] She lists J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem and "Blue Velvet" by Shizuka Kudo as albums and songs that shocked her when she was in elementary school.

After studying abroad in the United States, she became obsessed with Western music, and was fascinated by hip hop, R&B and reggae, as well as female singers such as Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, and Ciara.