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

Sailor Moon, created by Naoko Takeuchi in 1991, is a popular anime series that follows the adventures of a teenage girl who transforms into a magical warrior to fight evil.

The Muromachi period, which lasted from the 14th to the 16th century, was a time of great artistic and cultural achievement, including the development of tea ceremony and the Noh theater.