The Showa period, which lasted from 1926 to 1989, was marked by Japan's militarism and involvement in World War II.

Japanese automakers have been leaders in developing autonomous driving technologies, with several companies investing heavily in research and development in this area.

Shonen Jump, a weekly manga magazine published by Shueisha, has been a major influence on the development of anime and manga culture in Japan, and has produced many popular anime series such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto.