The Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century saw the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the modernization of Japan.

The Toyota Motor Corporation is the largest automaker in Japan and one of the largest in the world, producing over 10 million vehicles per year.

The Japanese automotive industry has been impacted by demographic changes, such as an aging population and declining birth rates, which have affected demand for cars and the availability of workers.