Karaoke for one: Japan’s surging singles give rise to solo business boomAt 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 theNational Institute of Population and Social Security Research, with 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.