The robotic pet, such as Sony's Aibo, has become a popular form of entertainment and companionship for people who cannot keep real pets.

Japan has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional arts such as calligraphy, pottery, and ikebana (flower arrangement).

Astro Boy, created by Osamu Tezuka in 1963, is considered the first modern anime and helped to popularize the genre both in Japan and around the world.