The Heian period, which lasted from the 8th to the 12th century, was a time of great cultural and artistic achievement in Japan.

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

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.