The Japanese automotive industry is one of the largest and most advanced in the world, with major players such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda.

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.

Japan has a tradition of wrapping gifts in cloth called furoshiki, which can be reused and is more environmentally friendly.