It is not likely to be seen as a diplomatic incident, but Theresa May has committed a minor faux pas on her trade-based charm offensive in Japan by admitting that she does not like karaoke.
The typically alcohol-fuelled activity, in which participants enthusiastically belt out words projected on to a screen to a recorded backing track, originated in Japan in the 1970s and has since spread across the world.
But asked for a song she particularly favoured with a karaoke microphone in hand, the British prime minister told reporters: “I’ve got a confession to make. It may be a shock to you all, but I’m not a great karaoke fan. I’ve never done karaoke, actually, I’m afraid.”
But May did at least tell her hosts that she enjoyed another Japanese cultural mainstay, saying: “I’ve never made sushi, but I enjoy eating it.”
