The Toyota Prius, first introduced in 1997, is the world's first mass-produced hybrid car and has become a symbol of eco-friendly transportation.

The Hakone Ekiden, a long-distance relay race held annually between Tokyo and Hakone, is one of the most prestigious races in Japanese college athletics.

Japan's victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was the first time an Asian power had defeated a European power in a modern war.