In 1971, Daisuke Inoue was a drummer and band manager in Kobe, Japan. His job often involved playing backup for local businessmen who sang at snack bars. One day, an executive from a steel company made a special request. He was going on a business trip and wanted Inoue to provide his unique accompaniment, which involved playing slightly behind the beat to match the timing of amateur singers. Inoue could not make the trip, so instead, he recorded his keyboard accompaniment onto an open-reel tape in keys that best suited the client's voice. The executive was thrilled. This simple request led Inoue to develop the first commercially successful karaoke system, bringing the musicians' term for an 'empty orchestra' to the world.
Daisuke Inoue and the First Karaoke Machine
In 1971, a Kobe drummer built the first commercially successful karaoke machines but never patented them, missing a fortune.
Chapter 1
The Empty Orchestra
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the word 'karaoke' mean?
Karaoke is a Japanese portmanteau, or blended word. It combines 'kara,' meaning empty, and 'okesutora,' which is a Japanese borrowing of the word orchestra. So, karaoke literally means 'empty orchestra'.
Did Daisuke Inoue become rich from inventing karaoke?
No, he did not. Inoue never filed a patent for his invention because he believed he was only combining existing technologies. This allowed other companies to legally copy and mass-produce karaoke machines, costing him an estimated 100 million dollars in royalties every year.
What was the Ig Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Daisuke Inoue for?
In 2004, Daisuke Inoue was awarded the Ig Nobel Peace Prize at Harvard University. The award was given for his invention of karaoke, which provided 'an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other'.
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