Karaoke is Japan’s gift to the world of joyous off-key singing and shameless mic-hogging. Born in the 1970s thanks to musician Daisuke Inoue (who, fun fact, never patented his invention), karaoke combines the thrill of performing with the safety of not needing a real band—or much vocal talent. The word comes from kara (empty) and oke (orchestra), which basically means “you’re the star now, ready or not!” In Japan, people belt their hearts out in cozy karaoke boxes with friends, snacks, and maybe a little sake for courage. It quickly spread worldwide, turning quiet nights into full-blown power ballad performances and giving us all an excuse to pretend we’re rockstars for five glorious minutes. 

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