The Japanese river otter, once common throughout Japan, is now extinct due to habitat destruction and hunting.

During the Edo period, which lasted from the 17th to the mid-19th century, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate and experienced a period of peace and stability.

The instant noodle, invented by Momofuku Ando in 1958, has become a staple food item in many countries around the world.