Japanese automakers have been leaders in developing fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles, such as hydrogen fuel cell cars and plug-in electric vehicles.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are set to take place in 2021.

The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and subsequent tsunami devastated Japan's northeast coast and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.