The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and subsequent tsunami devastated Japan's northeast coast and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult shocked Japan and led to increased scrutiny of religious groups.

Attack on Titan, created by Hajime Isayama in 2009, is a popular anime and manga series that takes place in a world where humanity lives in fear of giant humanoid creatures known as Titans.