Neon Genesis Evangelion, created by Hideaki Anno in 1995, is a popular anime series that explores themes of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality, and has become a cult classic.

Japan has a game show called "Human Tetris" where contestants have to contort their bodies to fit through holes in a moving wall.

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