The Showa period, which lasted from 1926 to 1989, was marked by Japan's militarism and involvement in World War II.

The Todaiji Temple in Nara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha.

The Taisho period, which lasted from 1912 to 1926, was marked by political instability and social change, including the rise of labor unions and women's rights movements.