Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are a national symbol of Japan and are celebrated each spring with picnics and festivals.

Takoyaki, a dish made with small balls of batter filled with chopped octopus, is a popular Japanese street food.

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