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.

Yakiniku, a dish made with grilled meat and vegetables, is a popular Japanese dish that is often served in restaurants where diners cook the meat themselves at the table.

The Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century saw the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the modernization of Japan.