Japan's surrender in World War II was announced on August 15, 1945, and marked the end of the war in the Pacific.

The Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Nikko is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous example of traditional Japanese architecture.

The 16th century saw the rise of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, who were instrumental in unifying Japan under a centralized government.