ひとりぼっち

 Useful Vocabulary

体験Taiken- experience

食券機Shokkenki- meal ticket machine

自動受付Jidou uke tsuke- self check-in

ボーッとするBo-tto suru- zone out

ゲーセンGe-sen- short for Game Center



In this presentation, I’m talking about “Solo Experiences” in Japan, specifically eating out and going to karaoke by yourself. The culture surrounding this is very different in America and Japan. It’s becoming more normal, but if you eat out by yourself you might be seen as weird, or that you don’t have friends. 



Most restaurants in Japan have a design that is very friendly to people who want to eat by themselves. There is usually at least a bar where you can sit by yourself, and most of the time these spots will even have your own water pitcher to pour from. Some restaurants have closed off booths, where you can have more privacy. These will usually also have tablets to order on, so you don’t even need to talk to anyone.



I also talk about Karaoke, and how it’s pretty normal to go by yourself here in Japan. Back in the states, karaoke, is completely different, and you only really do it in big groups at bars or with your friends. Here in Japan, you can get a room all to yourself and sing to your hearts content. It’s so refreshing to be able to sing as loud as you want without worrying about what other people think. Instead of paying a therapist you can just go sing your feelings away at karaoke. 

While we were staying in Kyoto, I took a day to only do things by myself, and it was so relaxing. It gave me time to think, and I felt like I could do all the things I wanted to, without being judged for them. I really want to continue this culture of freely doing things by yourself when I return to Utah.


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