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

Basketball is growing in popularity in Japan, with several professional teams and the national team competing at the highest level.

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