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

Shonen Jump, a weekly manga magazine published by Shueisha, has been a major influence on the development of anime and manga culture in Japan, and has produced many popular anime series such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto.

The art of origami, or paper folding, originated in Japan and is still practiced today.