English version
Do you all know about Japanese karaoke boxes? They are often simply called karaoke for short.
I love karaoke, and especially when I was a student, I went there often. About twice a week, I went alone to practice so that I could sing well when I went with my friends. Now I live abroad, but I want to return to Japan just to go to karaoke.
Japanese karaoke rooms are private rooms where you can sing songs you choose while watching a pitch bar. There is also a feature that shows your singing score as points, telling you how well you sang. If you select anime songs, anime videos sometimes play, and sometimes artist live concert videos play, so you can enjoy karaoke in different ways.
Also, the fun of karaoke is not only singing. You can order drinks, and many karaoke places have a “drink bar,” which is an all-you-can-drink service for various beverages during your karaoke time. Some stores also have cosplay costumes, tambourines, maracas, and other goods that you can use to make the party even more exciting.
Many karaoke places are open 24 hours, so you can use them if you miss the last train or want to spend time with friends until morning. When I was young, we would sometimes sing karaoke all night with everyone, and sometimes we studied for university tests inside karaoke boxes without singing at all. Recently, some people watch idol videos or do solo “oshi-katsu” (supporting their favorite idols) at karaoke boxes. This kind of use seems to be spreading as a new way to enjoy karaoke.
Furthermore, prices can be discounted depending on the time of day. For example, going during weekday early mornings or less crowded times can be cheaper. Prices are higher on weekends and at night, but you can stay cheaply during the time after the last train until the first train starts running.
That is my introduction to my favorite Japanese karaoke.
