Japanology Plus

Episode Synopsis

Microphone in hand, tens of millions of people in Japan belt out songs in private party rooms known as karaoke boxes. These intimate spaces are great places for friends to build camaraderie... although solo boxes are also gaining popularity. We'll see how the karaoke box has become a part of Japanese life. Our expert guest this time is Kyoko Koizumi, a sociologist with a particular interest in how people interact with music.