Ghost in the Shell, created by Masamune Shirow in 1989, is a popular anime and manga series that explores themes of cybernetics, artificial intelligence, and the nature of humanity.

The 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult shocked Japan and led to increased scrutiny of religious groups.

The Japanese raccoon dog, also known as the tanuki, is a species of wild dog that is native to Japan and is famous for its mythical reputation in Japanese folklore.