Basketball is growing in popularity in Japan, with several professional teams and the national team competing at the highest level.

The robotic pet, such as Sony's Aibo, has become a popular form of entertainment and companionship for people who cannot keep real pets.

Fullmetal Alchemist, created by Hiromu Arakawa in 2001, is a popular manga and anime series that explores themes of science, magic, and the consequences of human ambition.