Shonen Jump, a weekly manga magazine published by Shueisha, has been a major influence on the development of anime and manga culture in Japan, and has produced many popular anime series such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto.

In the 12th century, the samurai class emerged in Japan, with warriors serving as protectors for the aristocracy.

The Showa period, which lasted from 1926 to 1989, was marked by Japan's militarism and involvement in World War II.