Japanese food is known for its use of umami, a savory taste that is often described as the fifth taste.

The rice cooker, invented in the 1950s, has made cooking rice faster and more convenient for households worldwide.

The 16th century saw the rise of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, who were instrumental in unifying Japan under a centralized government.