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

Karate, another martial art that originated in Japan, has also become a popular sport and is practiced by millions of people around the world.

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.