The All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, held annually since 1921, is one of the most prestigious high school soccer tournaments in the world.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, created by Nagaru Tanigawa in 2003, is a popular light novel series and anime that explores themes of existentialism, time travel, and alternate realities.

Japan's isolationist policy during the Edo period limited contact with the outside world but allowed for the development of unique cultural practices and traditions.