Kobe is a port city on Japan's western coast, and is known for its beef, hot springs, and scenic views of the sea and mountains.

Japan's surrender in World War II was announced on August 15, 1945, and marked the end of the war in the Pacific.

The Muromachi period, which lasted from the 14th to the 16th century, was a time of great artistic and cultural achievement, including the development of tea ceremony and the Noh theater.