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Every so often, 33-year-old Masaki Kitakoga slips into a tiny booth and karaoke tunes for 90 minutes – completely on his own.
Kitakoga is part of a growing trend in Japan. ohitorisama, or "on your own."
Analysts say that Japan's demographics make-up – more than one third of the world – just one person – makes it perfect for the single market, with many others in a fast-paced, interconnected and workaholic society.
Karaoke, in many ways, the archetypal social activity, is a case in point.
Six years ago, the Koshidaka karaoke chain realized that some 30 percent of its customers in some locations came on their own, so it set up "1Kara" tiny booths for solo singers.
Now the firm runs a network of eight specialty karaoke, which is one of the most important of its kind, according to Daiki Yamatani, a spokesman for the chain.
"It's a truly liberating experience," said Kitakoga. "I like to sing. But beyond that, this lets me shake off stress. "
Asking for such services grows, the stigma of doing activities alone has decreased, Kitakoga added, who also sings karaoke occasionally with friends.
Many lone karaoke singers say they like singing just the songs they want to, without bowing to peer pressure for sing-along classics that everyone else knows.
Signs of omitorisama are everywhere in Japan, from cinemas offering them with partitions to theme parks that let the singles jump the line at certain wrinkles.
Grocery stores sell condiments and vegetables for travel.
The "super solo society" has become a buzzword among social scientists and marketing gurus.
"Motoko Matsushita, senior consultant with Nomura Research Institute, said:" Businesses are offering various goods and services to meet the trend of people enjoying solo activities.
"The depth and range of such services reflect the expanding nature of the consumer trend," she said.
Matsushita, added Matsushita.
Surveys show Japanese consumers – especially younger ones – rate quality time alone with family and friends.
Official data show the ratio of households with parents and children.
In 1980 in Japan, only one in 50 men had never been married by the age of 50 and one in 22 women. That ratio is now 1 in 4 and 1 in 7, respectively.
The demographic shift comes as a result of Japan's population growth, with nearly 28 percent of Japanese people over the age of 65.
And the pace of modern life with ubiquitous social media is also pushing this trend, experts say, as tired people seek relief from round-the-clock contact.
"Our data show sociable individuals tend to … seek solo activities," said Matsushita, a married mother-of-two, who says she is partial to a spot of solo karaoke.
Restaurants are also cashing in. At the Ichiran ramen chain, it is possible to have a meal with barely any human interaction whatsoever.
Sales of machines and their location in the United Kingdom, where they are divided by their teams, where orders are shouted by teams of leaders behind greasy counters.
"We were doing this even before the trend started activities. This 'personal space' concept has been received, "said Satomi Nozaki, spokesperson at the popular chain, which also has outlets overseas.
Karaoke fan Kitakoga also enjoys traveling to Japan last year.
"Sure, it would have been fun to travel with friends too. I wanted to do anything I wanted to do everything I wanted to do it, "he said.
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