Karaoke

I still remember the Thursday nights at the Tir Nan Og, in Kingston- standing on a stage singing to a crowd just awaiting to hear my voice. Of course, this was only enjoyable enough with the right mood, song and crowd, yet the Japanese really do redefine the art of Karaoke. Karaoke is by far the most celebrated event of a Japanese night out, for foreigners and locals alike.
Essentially, this is what the night usually entails. The suggestion is made well in advance to create a spark in the evening events and of course to increase anticipation. Everyone meets at the Karaoke venue. The venue itself is not a bar, but a hotel-like building, with individual rooms and areas to privately enjoy your evening without the disturbance of others. These venues have such names as Cote D'Azure, Shidax, Big Echo, My Pleasure, and so on. The event becomes an 'all you can drink' for the small fee of 3,000 yen (or $30)- well worth the price. These events can easily add up, with profits of nearly 6 or 7 hundred dollars a night to the venue. After about 4 or 5 hours of Aerosmith and Elton John everyone is ready to head back to their respective places of residence. It should be noted that the selection of songs is massive, with hits from the 1980s well up to recent popular songs.
Not only do the foreigners love this event, as it is a great opportunity to bond, the Japanese also favour Karaoke, singing Japanese songs, with a mix of some Western hits. I will admitt that the best night out MUST include some karaoke, as everyone loosens up and enjoys the night. What's even better is combining events with karaoke- hence the photo.