Japan's recorded history dates back to the 5th century AD, when the first known emperor, Emperor Jimmu, ascended to the throne.

Japanese anime has gained a huge following outside of Japan and has become an important part of global popular culture, with many anime conventions and fan events held around the world.

Astro Boy, created by Osamu Tezuka in 1963, is considered the first modern anime and helped to popularize the genre both in Japan and around the world.