Wasabi, a spicy condiment made from a plant similar to horseradish, is often served with sushi and other Japanese dishes.

The first novel ever written, The Tale of Genji, was written in Japan in the 11th century by a noblewoman named Murasaki Shikibu.

The Allied occupation of Japan following World War II brought about major political and social changes, including the drafting of a new constitution and the abolition of the samurai class.