Karaoke, a popular form of entertainment in Japan, originated in Kobe in the 1970s.

The earliest known Japanese animation was produced in 1907, and the first feature-length anime film was released in 1945.

Hayao Miyazaki, one of the most famous and influential anime directors of all time, has created many classic anime films such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle.