Alexandru Arba
Research expert covering Japan
Karaoke industry in Japan - statistics & facts
Empty orchestra. That is the word-for-word translation of the Japanese term “karaoke”. Its nomenclature is tightly connected with the phenomenon’s origins and is difficult to associate with what people typically understand by karaoke: the act of gathering in small groups in private or public places and singing (amplified by microphones) along pre-recorded songs that have been stripped of the original song’s voices.
There are various places to “do” karaoke in contemporary times, which include going to dedicated karaoke facilities (also called karaoke boxes), going to bars or pubs that have karaoke equipment, and more recently, the place of one’s choice via karaoke apps on the smartphone. Karaoke is popular in Japan. Millions of people participate in karaoke sessions at least once per year. So many participating consumers naturally translate into a sizable industry in which karaoke boxes constitute the largest market segment.
Next to karaoke’s appeal as a leisure activity, a core reason for the success of karaoke in Japan is the well-developed infrastructure of the industry. Currently, there are over eight thousand karaoke box facilities, and thousands of pubs and snack bars provide customers with karaoke equipment. Overall, a few hundred thousand karaoke machines are in operation throughout the country. In recent years, solo karaoke rooms were introduced into the market. Karaoke rooms also began to be rented as a cheap alternative to studios and as rooms for business meetings.
As to be expected, the age groups with the highest participation rates were the younger generations. Despite this, it is noteworthy that karaoke has a broad appeal in Japanese society, as all age cohorts participated to a considerable extent. This broad appeal can be attributed to the fact that karaoke caters to a wide range of needs, as the industry keeps innovating and developing to provide people with joy and satisfaction.
Karaoke industry’s success
What lies behind the success of the karaoke industry in Japan? The motivations for participating in karaoke are undoubtedly manifold. While for some it simply satisfies their basal urge to sing, for others it is an opportunity to connect with their peers, and yet for others an occasion to relax and escape everyday life for a few hours. Karaoke boxes in particular create a setting in which customers can enjoy privacy while letting loose from societal obligations while enjoying snacks and drinks.Next to karaoke’s appeal as a leisure activity, a core reason for the success of karaoke in Japan is the well-developed infrastructure of the industry. Currently, there are over eight thousand karaoke box facilities, and thousands of pubs and snack bars provide customers with karaoke equipment. Overall, a few hundred thousand karaoke machines are in operation throughout the country. In recent years, solo karaoke rooms were introduced into the market. Karaoke rooms also began to be rented as a cheap alternative to studios and as rooms for business meetings.
Karaoke goers’ demographic characteristics
The share of people who participated in karaoke at least once per year in the past couple of years ranged from roughly 30 to 45 percent prior to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic severely reduced the participation rate, since small and airtight rooms were deemed dangerous, and many pubs and karaoke box operators had to close shop or strongly reduce operating hours.As to be expected, the age groups with the highest participation rates were the younger generations. Despite this, it is noteworthy that karaoke has a broad appeal in Japanese society, as all age cohorts participated to a considerable extent. This broad appeal can be attributed to the fact that karaoke caters to a wide range of needs, as the industry keeps innovating and developing to provide people with joy and satisfaction.
