In the 1960s, Mr. Daisuke Inoue invented the backing track and portable microphone when he was a drummer in a salon band in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Within three years, karaoke became very popular, and major companies copied Inoue's ideas and launched their own models. By the time someone suggested he apply for a patent, it was already too late. Inoue admitted: "I never thought about applying for a patent." This concept existed long before Inoue invented the 8-Juke (eight-channel jukebox) in 1971, and the 8-Juke was a red and white wooden box. It is equipped with a microphone, amplifier and eight-track cassette player, and the instrument panel is labeled in English to make it look "fashionable".