Kobe is a port city on Japan's western coast, and is known for its beef, hot springs, and scenic views of the sea and mountains.

Japan's victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was the first time an Asian power had defeated a European power in a modern war.

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.