The Japan national baseball team has won two World Baseball Classic championships and has been a dominant force in international baseball.

Cowboy Bebop, created by Shinichiro Watanabe in 1998, is a popular anime series that blends science fiction, film noir, and jazz music to create a unique and memorable atmosphere.

The 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult shocked Japan and led to increased scrutiny of religious groups.