Do you like “KARAOKE”?
In fact, karaoke was born in Japan, and the word karaoke itself is Japanese. The word “karaoke” comes from the word “kara” (empty) and “orchestra” (orchestra). In other words, it refers to music that contains no singing, only musical accompaniment.
Those who feel embarrassed to perform karaoke may not have to worry about it in Japan. This article explains the history of karaoke and how it is performed in Japan. I hope you will enjoy karaoke as a part of Japanese culture.
History of Karaoke
In the 1950s and 1960s, before the advent of the current karaoke format, some coffee shops had a “singing cafe,” where the owner or a live band played musical instruments and customers sang. In the 1970s, karaoke machines were placed in restaurants such as snack bars and hotel banquet halls, and people enjoyed them exclusively as entertainment at drinking parties.
With the development of laser discs in the 1980s, “karaoke boxes” specializing in karaoke, rather than as an incidental entertainment, sprang up in many places. A karaoke box is a style of stores where people sing karaoke in a private room with only their friends. This karaoke box is the reason why Japanese people who feel embarrassed to sing in public places like karaoke.
Karaoke Today
Karaoke boxes, which began to appear in large numbers in the 1980s, have become a fixture in Japanese society. Today, karaoke boxes can be found in front of train stations and in downtown areas. It is one of the most familiar forms of entertainment in Japan.
Karaoke is usually enjoyed in the evening with friends while drinking alcohol. Many karaoke boxes are open in the daytime, and many people enjoy the pleasure of concentrating on singing.
Since singing is a stress reliever, many people make it a hobby to go to karaoke alone. For this reason, some karaoke stores specialize in one-person karaoke.
How to Enter Karaoke
First, when you enter the store, you will find a reception desk. This is like a hotel reception area.
Here you will be asked the following questions
Number of people
Phone number
Date of birth
How many hours you would like to stay
Drinks (often one drink or a drink bar)
If you are not sure about the price, ask how much it will be. If you download the restaurant’s app, you may be able to get a discount.
After the reception, you will be given a piece of paper with your room number on it, which you will take to your private room.
After you enter the room
There is a tablet remote control, so choose the song you want to sing. (The screen can be changed to English)
Turn on the microphone and sing to your heart’s content!
There is a menu in the room where you can order food and drinks, but in many cases you have to order by phone. This may be difficult if you do not speak Japanese. If you must order, go back to the reception desk and order by pointing.
When the end time comes
Ten minutes before the end of the time you signed up for at the reception desk, you will receive a phone call. Answer the phone and say “yes”.
Some stores do not inform you of the end time, so you should watch the time yourself.
If it is a few minutes past the end time, there is no problem, but if it is more than 10 minutes past the end time, you may be charged for the extra time.
Take a piece of paper with your room number and go to the reception desk to pay. In most cases, credit cards are accepted.
Other uses
Many karaoke bars in the downtown area are open until morning. If you miss the last train, you may wait for the morning at a karaoke place. Since it is a private room, you can sing or sleep. Some people use them as inexpensive lodging. However, there are no locks on the rooms and of course no beds. Still, there is an electrical outlet and you can beat the heat or cold, so it is good to keep this in mind for emergencies.
Find your own way to enjoy yourself!
- Go to karaoke with other fans of an artist and sing that artist’s songs together.
- Watching music videos without singing.
- Sing the same song over and over again.
Try to enjoy the Japanese karaoke culture!