My First Experience with JOYSOUND's National Scoring Grand Prix: Hooked in a Single Day [Random Thoughts 14]

I've been making full use of chocoZAP thanks to a one-year free shareholder benefit. I've become completely hooked in just one day on the "National Scoring Grand Prix," a feature where you compete against users nationwide in karaoke, something I only used occasionally.

Summary of the benefits of chocoZAP karaoke

First, I'll list the benefits of chocoZAP karaoke. If you're interested, please read on.

• The limit is 2 hours per day, so you can sing to your heart's content.

• It's 3,278 yen per month no matter how often you go.

• The more you sing, the more calories you burn, which is good for your health.

• Since it's competitive, you improve, which is useful if you ever have a chance to perform (is there such a chance?).

• Solo karaoke is perfectly fine.

A quick review of chocoZAP

Operated by RIZAP Group (2928), chocoZAP markets itself as a "convenience store gym," offering unlimited access to over 1,700 locations nationwide for a monthly fee of 3,278 yen including tax.

Beyond gym features like treadmills and strength training equipment, there are various facilities such as self-service aesthetic treatments, massage chairs, and laundry.

At locations with JOYSOUND karaoke terminals (309 locations nationwide as of May 23), you can reserve up to 2 hours per day if there is availability.

It uses the same online distribution as specialty stores like Big Echo, and even if the terminal is old, you can reserve the latest songs using the smartphone app.

As for the soundproofing, which might be a concern, it is honestly a bit shaky, but if you turn the volume down a bit and sing with a clear mind, imagining you're in a vast meadow, it's not a problem. Probably.

What is the National Scoring Grand Prix?

And for karaoke, there is a feature called the "National Scoring Grand Prix" where you can compare your scores with users across the country.

I had never tried it before, but I was overly flattered (?) by the regular AI analysis and decided to give it a shot. I'm so easy, lol.

Still, I've never seen a message like this before... Even if you praise me that much, I won't get anything out of it.

To use it, just select "National Scoring Grand Prix" from the "Scoring Reservation" menu on the remote or smartphone app and reserve your song.

I tried it out, aiming for the top.

Until now, my highest score in standard scoring was in the 94-point range with Porno Graffitti's "Saudade." When I entered, I was told 1,900 people were participating.

So, I tried it out right away...

The number of people singing the same song that month, my ranking, and my score are calculated in real-time...

Effects appear showing how many people I passed (or how many I fell behind due to a mistake), and my national ranking goes up and down...

What is this? It's too much fun!The ranking-up effects appearing one after another and seeing my rank and score climb is addictive.

I've only done it once, but isn't this the same feeling as getting hooked on a pachinko fever?By the way, I was 780th that time.

Apparently, for popular songs, there are around 2,000 people singing them. It resets on the 1st of every month, and it's a format where you compete for rank against everyone who sang that song during the month.

Since you are ranked by the same song, singing a more obscure song will numerically put you higher.

After trying a few songs, my rank generally kept rising gradually, but once I reached a certain level, it became severe where a single mistake led to an immediate drop.

I challenged about 8 songs, and my highest was still 93.592 points with Saudade. I made it into the top third or so, but is this really only 655th place...?

Member service "Uta Suki"

After experiencing the National Scoring Grand Prix for the first time, I decided to register for JOYSOUND's free member service, "Uta Suki."

You can use it in guest mode like I did this time, but after registering for Uta Suki, you get features like a 4-month history, songs where you've achieved 1st place, and a BEST 100 list that shows your top historical rankings.

It seems I've opened a new door for my otaku side, and falling down this rabbit hole is inevitable.

However, unlike pachinko or old-school arcades, with chocoZAP, no matter how much you go, it's free for 2 hours a day. There's no option but to go.

The calorie burn is also pretty good.

By the way, it seems that karaoke burns about 5 to 10 kcal per song (depending on posture and vocal volume). If you stand and sing for two hours, that calculates to over 200 kcal.

Now that I think about it, I drank quite a bit yesterday, so my face was clearly puffy when I woke up this morning, but after singing for an hour and a half, I feel like it looks a bit more refreshed...?

So, starting tomorrow, I'll make sure to find some time to challenge the National Scoring GP. If I get a good score, I'd like to report it in my chocoZAP diary.

It looks like I might end up just singing instead of doing muscle training, though...