But beyond that, this lets me shake off stress.”Īs demand for such services grows, the stigma of doing activities alone has decreased, added Kitakoga, who also sings karaoke occasionally with friends.
“It’s a truly liberating experience,” said Kitakoga. Now the firm runs a network of eight speciality karaoke parlours that each sees “tens of thousands” of crooners flock to its solo booths, according to Daiki Yamatani, a spokesman for the chain. Six years ago, the Koshidaka karaoke chain realised that some 30% of its customers in certain locations came on their own, so it set up “1Kara”, tiny booths for solo singers. Karaoke, in many ways the archetypal social activity, is a case in point. Kitakoga is part of a growing trend in Japan favouring solo activities that is now so widespread it has its own name "ohitorisama" or "on your own."(AFP)Īnalysts say that Japan’s demographic make-up - more than one third of households contain just one person - makes it perfect for the solo market, with many also craving “me time” in a fast-paced, interconnected and workaholic society.
Masaki Kitakoga poses next to tiny booths after singing, at a karaoke parlour in Tokyo. Kitakoga is part of a growing trend in Japan favouring solo activities that is now so widespread it has its own name: “ohitorisama” or “on your own”. Every so often, 33-year-old Masaki Kitakoga slips into a tiny booth with a desk and a chair and belts out karaoke tunes for 90 minutes - completely on his own.
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