Japan is a constitutional monarchy, with the Emperor as a symbolic head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government.

The first novel ever written, The Tale of Genji, was written in Japan in the 11th century by a noblewoman named Murasaki Shikibu.

The instant noodle, invented by Momofuku Ando in 1958, has become a staple food item in many countries around the world.