The popularity of karaoke in Japan has always mystified me because the popular conception of the Japanese people is that they are very shy and quiet; the exact polar opposite of your typical American, but hand an American a microphone and stand him up in front of his friends and family and he'll be mortified, but the Japanese love it, they are the Green Berets of singing off-key.
Karaoke translates to "empty orchestra" and was created by Daisuke Inoue in 1971. At first they were just tiny machines that hotels or restaurants would tuck into the back of their stores, but they soon became so popular that it began a whole business of its own.
Today karaoke has evolved from portable machines on wheels into private home theaters. When you go to a karaoke box you can rent a room by the hour. From the room you can order food and drinks (it usually takes me a beer or two until I can unwind enough to sing). There is a wireless touch screen device that you can use to search for songs. Choose a song and grab a microphone and you are all set. Be warned though, it is loud and the rooms are not sound proof, so anyone walking by it is going to hear you.
How popular is karaoke in Japan? In 2004 it's inventor was awarded the Ig Nobel Peace Prize for creating karaoke "thereby providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other."
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