Japan has more than 5 million vending machines, including ones that sell bananas, underwear, and even canned bread.

Soccer, or football, is a popular sport in Japan and the country has a professional soccer league with 18 teams.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, created by Nagaru Tanigawa in 2003, is a popular light novel series and anime that explores themes of existentialism, time travel, and alternate realities.