Karaoke

Small private rooms divided

Karaoke is one of popular leisure in Japan. Karaoke was invented by a Japanese man, but he did not obtain its patent; he could not be a millionaire.

The meaning of Karaoke in Japanese : kara = empty + oke = orchestra (shorten from orchestra)

There are many Karaoke boxes throughout Japan. In a floor, there are many small private rooms (Karaoke box) with karaoke machine. Normally a group with 2-8 people go into a box. So we don't have to sing in front of strangers.

Karaoke is singing with a pre-existing song, where you replace the original lead singer. Karaoke songs are reproduced to sound like the original song, but without lead vocals. The lyrics of the song are presented to the singer via a video screen, highlighting the words to be sung, so that the singer can follow along without memorizing the song lyrics. 

Inside of Karaoke box

Karaoke is making anyone the singing star they have always wanted to become. And you can get rid of stress.

In a Karaoke box, an hourly room charge is imposed.(average; one person/hr is about 1,000-2,000 yen, drink/food is option) Average hours to spend in a Karaoke box is about 2 or 3 hours.

* Rules of Karaoke Etiquette you should keep in mind when you're out having fun singing:

Respect the Singer

Applaud Everyone

Respect the rotation

Respect the Equipment and Your Audience

Let's fun with your frineds in a Karaoke box.


PS. Karaoke boom was over in Japan (the highest boom was in 1996)
The number of karaoke box facilities in Japan: 128,400 rooms / 9,126 shops (March, 2010)

Average sales of a room/month: about 250,000 yen.

Pachinko

Inside of Pachinko Parlor 

In Japan, Pachinko is one of the popular quick entertainment, mostly by men.
Pachinko is a Japanese pinball machine (upright style)

How to play Pachinko
1) Buy a certain number of balls.
2) Put the balls into the machine
3) Turn the automatic handle and balls start to come out.

Pachinko parlor

Many balls will pour out when you get the balls into the right holes.

Because gambling for cash is illegal in Japan, balls won cannot be exchanged directly for cash in the parlor. Instead, the balls are exchanged for token prizes, which can then be taken outside and traded in for cash at a business that is nominally separate from the parlor, and may be run by organized crime.

Pachinko Machine

Pachinko parlors share the reputation of slot machine dens and casinos the world over — garish decoration; over-the-top architecture; a low-hanging haze of cigarette smoke; the constant din of the machines, music, and announcements; and flashing lights.

Japanese people like Pachinko so much because playing pachinko gives people a chance to relieve their stress. But sometimes people get addicted to it and it ruins their lives. There have been kidnappings and traffic accidents involving young children whose mothers forgot about them while playing pachinko.

Total annual turnover of Pachinko industry : 20 trillion yen
Average of money spent for pachinko/day; 13,596yen
Average of playing by pachinko player: 2-3 times/week

Kimono 4 - Obi

Kimono dresser

Most people cannot wear a kimono by themselves. Instead, people ask a professional kimono dresser to dress them. (the price for kimono dresser is about 10,000 yen/kimono (or $100).)

Kimono has no buttons or zippers, but adjusts to one's body using only a sash (or "obi").

The formal obi is about 4 m long. Obi is wrapped around 2 times and tied to one's body in the back.
The back view of the obi is a part of kimono coordination.
Wearing a kimono is not so uncomfortable, it fits naturally.

Obi ribbon

Obi sash

Kimonos 3 - Structure

Kimonos are traditionally made from a single bolt of fabric called a tan. Tan come in standard dimensions—about 14 inches wide and 12½ yards long —and the entire bolt is used to make one kimono.


One of factors determining the high class kimono is if the patterns are drawn to form a unified picture across the entire canvas of the Kimono which is not interrupted at the seams A piece of Kimono is made from a single bolt of fabric called a “tan”. The tan is straight cut to 8 pieces to make a Kimono. In the case of high class Kimono, when the “tan” is made into a Kimono, the patterns are carefully matched to become one piece of artistic work. Since this requires a good deal of time and effort in designing and cutting, this kind of Kimono are considered to be high class, as opposed to average Kimono which need not meet this standard. Uchikake Kimono are of the matching motif type, which identifies them as a very high class Kimono. 


The above photo (woman in furisode kimono) shows the continuation of pattern - very high rank kimono.


 Our Uchikake kimono has also the continuation of pattern, like an art.

Kimonos 2 - type

There are several types of kimonos:

Furisode

Furisode:
For a single woman. The furisode kimono has long sleeves with elaborate decorations, beautiful designs and colors.
This is made of very fine, brightly colored silk, and very expensive.
Typically single women who just turn 20 years old wear the Furisode at the Ceremomy of Coming of Age Day. And single women who participate in the tea ceremony, or wedding ceremonies of relatives wear furisode.

Houmongi 

 Houmongi:

Houmongi are worn for formal visits. (Homongi= Houmon(=visit) + Gi(wear)) by bothe married and single women.
A houmongi is distinguished from other patterned kimono by an asymmetrical pattern that continues unbroken across the side seams to the back hem.

 Tomesode

Tomesode:
The most formal kimono for married women with five family crests. The sleevs are short to show that a woman is tied to her husband's family. It is usually worn at the formal events such as wedding, graduation ceremony etc. The meaning of the sleeve has the same as Iro Tomesode.

Kosode

Kosode:
More casual kimono than Tomesode. It is worn in a daily life. You can find "Kosode" waitresses who serve at Japanese restaurants.

Uchikake

Uchikake:
Japanese bridal kimono, the most elaborate garments in the realm of traditional Japanese ceremonial clothing.

They are heavy and thick with padding, and extend to the floor.
Until the Edo period, the Uchikake, a full length outer robe, was worn by women of nobility for formal occasions, but is now an essential component of any traditional Japanese bridal costume.


Kunihime Kimono Dress is made from this type of kimono, Uchikake. (→Why exclusive?)

Kimonos 1 - General

Kimono is the national costume of Japan. We don't wear kimono everyday, just only on special occasions - like weddings, funerals, and other formal ceremonies.

Western clothes were introduced in the Meiji era (1868-1912). The Meiji government adopted a European style military uniform and decided that officials, mailmen, railroad workers wear western clothes to transform the country into a modern state. This trend spread to ordinary people.

A real (authentic) kimono is expensive (several hundred thousand yen or more (over $ several thousand) - even the highest price up to 10 million yen ($100,000), because it is made of silk.
It seems to be expensive, but a good kimono can be worn for life.

T shape (one design)

Traditionally, kimono is handed down from generation to generation.

Kimono is designed to fit all body type with only one basic design.
(see the right photo). The design has not changed for hundred of years. With a little bit of maintenance. it can be worn for years.