Japan has produced several successful Olympians, including swimmer Kosuke Kitajima and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu.

The Toyota Prius, first introduced in 1997, is the world's first mass-produced hybrid car and has become a symbol of eco-friendly transportation.

Japan's victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was the first time an Asian power had defeated a European power in a modern war.