Karaoke
Papers – Washi, metallic embossed, Optix, cartridge
Framed size 640 x 450 mm
 
What does it mean?
 
Karaoke literally means "empty" "orchestra". Karaoke is hugely popular in Japan where it originated, and the quiet Japanese people suddenly become very loud after a few sakes with microphone in hand!
Origins
 
In 1971 a musician Daisuke Inoue devised karaoke equipment in Kobe but as he didn’t patent it, Clarion produced the first machine. Inoue had been asked many times by friends to give them recordings of his music that they could sing along to, and this provided the idea.
The patent holder of the karaoke machine developed the karaoke's sing-along system in 1975.
In the 1980s videos were added to karaoke machines.
The earliest karaoke-based music video game, called Karaoke Studio, was released for the Nintendo Famicom in 1985. Now many karaoke games are available online.
 
Fun Facts
 

• In 2004, Daisuke Inoue was awarded the tongue-in-cheek Ig Nobel Peace Prize for inventing karaoke, "thereby providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other."
• Many Japanese are also happy to sing karaoke by themselves, which inspired the karaoke box, separate, small, soundproof rooms, or “boxes,” where singers can belt it out without disturbing the neighbours. The Japanese are very respectful of their counterparts and as living conditions are dense, they do not make any loud noise in their homes.
• Taxis with karaoke machines appeared in South Korea in the 1990s. Europe's first commercial "karaokecab" was on the road in 2010. Karaoke is featured in some aftermarket car DVD players.
• Karamovie is Karaoke using scenes from movies. Using software or remote-control muting and screen blanking/freezing you can replace actors in movies.
• Most karaoke machines can change the pitch of the music so that singers can choose a key that suits them.