The sika deer is a common species of deer found throughout Japan, and is considered sacred in Japanese Shintoism.

Skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports in Japan, with the country hosting several major ski resorts and hosting international competitions.

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