Karaoke Anyone?

In my last post I mentioned that I would discuss this favored Japanese past-time, but before I begin highlighting my experience allow me to give a bit of its history.

Traditionally musical entertainment is provided at dinners and parties in Japan. During the 1970's, famous Japanese drummer Daisuke Inoue was asked to create a recording of his performances. In hopes of singing along at a company-sponsored vacation, frequent guests of the Utagoe Kissa (where he performed) considered the opportunity. His invention of the karaoke machine followed suit leasing them out to various locations such as bars and hotels. For just a 100-yen coin (rather expensive at the time) Inoue's machines were a huge hit. They eventually spread to the rest of Asia during the 1980's and then the United States during the 1990's. Inoue never bothered with patenting his invention passing up a chance at being one of Japan's richest men, however, a Filipino inventor Roberto del Rosario was issued patents in '83 and '86, more than a decade later than the original invention of '71.

My experience with karaoke has always been the same: amateur singing with quality fun. If there's one thing the Japanese are prideful about, it's their single most sung song they feel best performing. This is called a juhachiban. As you're singing your heart out, they'll take notice. I've come to realize that the Japanese will try to one-up you by throwing down their juhachiban.

It's smashingly good times, whether I can sing or not.