Sendai is the largest city in Japan's Tohoku region, located in northeastern Japan, and is known for its cultural festivals and cuisine.

The Hakone Ekiden, a long-distance relay race held annually between Tokyo and Hakone, is one of the most prestigious races in Japanese college athletics.

Astro Boy, created by Osamu Tezuka in 1963, is considered the first modern anime and helped to popularize the genre both in Japan and around the world.