Karaoke Bash!
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Most of the time Japanese people are pretty serious. Busnessmen work 12 hours days and students study their minds out to pass entrance exams. How did this culture produce Karaoke? Wacky sing-alongs with flashing lights and sentimental favorites. We have this in America, but it's just not the same.
I participated in the madness twice so far(as of 11-1-2001), both times at Taito Station. Which is actually more of a video arcade that happens to have some rather nice karaoke booths on the top level. More on this later.
See those things that look like large colorfull telephone books? Those are the song selection books. Thousands of song titles, sorted by artist. There are American, Japanese and Korean songs to choose from. They seem to have almost everthing. By each song they have a 6-digit number. Just enter that into the remote control and...
...Instant party!
These girls are singing some Japanese pop song (I forget which one). Next up: Ben and Kevin
We choose an American favorite by A-Ha. Take On me. This picture was taken during that high note. Note the look of determination on our faces. Karaoke is serious business.
But of course you can only be a pop idol so long. After Ben and I did the above number it was time to engage in an equally silly and entertaining activity. Dance Dance Revolution. One of the greatest arcade ideas ever. They are everywhere in Japan, including the building we were singing Karaoke in. the object of this game? To step on the footpads to the beat of the music and the prompts on the screen. Fun.
After sweating a bit to that game (and taking a few Purikura), we went back to the Karaoke room and found that we hadn't been the only ones dancing. Everyone was out of their seats and busting their respective moves.
More will be added later as I will no doubt go back for more Karaoke before leaving this wonderful country.
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