The Toyota Prius, first introduced in 1997, is the world's first mass-produced hybrid car and has become a symbol of eco-friendly transportation.

The emoji, invented by Shigetaka Kurita in 1999, has become a popular form of communication and a ubiquitous feature of modern digital communication.

The Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century saw the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the modernization of Japan.