Similarly, Karaoke is not a singing contest; it is a team-building exercise. In Japan, you go with coworkers to blow off steam, not to show off vocal range. The private booth culture ( karaoke box ) respects the Japanese love for privacy within a public space.

Once dismissed as "cartoons," anime is now the crown jewel of Japan’s soft power. But in Japan, anime isn't just for kids. You will find Salarymen reading One Piece on the subway next to high schoolers.