The 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult shocked Japan and led to increased scrutiny of religious groups.

Ghost in the Shell, created by Masamune Shirow in 1989, is a popular anime and manga series that explores themes of cybernetics, artificial intelligence, and the nature of humanity.

The robotic pet, such as Sony's Aibo, has become a popular form of entertainment and companionship for people who cannot keep real pets.