Karaoke for one: Japan ’ s surging singles give rise to solo business boom At the multi-storey Karaoke Kan in the Shimbashi district of Tokyo, it doesn ’ t (1)________ if you fail to hit the right notes during your rendition of a classic hit . (2) _______ your karaoke booth for one, no one can hear your scream. Karaoke Kan is one of a (3) __________ number of Japanese businesses catering to ohitorisama , or the solo customer. More than a (4) _________ of Japan ’ s 53m households are now occupied by a (5)_______ person, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, w ith the proportion expected to (6)________ to around 40% by 2040. The rise of singledom has spawned its own (7) __________ , from karaoke booths and ramen bars to bowling alleys --catering not just for the 18 million Japanese living (8) _______ , but also for others who crave time away from their partners or colleagues. All are united by the (9)_______ for temporary liberation from peer pressure that has been exacerbated by the demands of social media, (10)__________ to some experts.