The Japanese giant salamander is one of the world's largest amphibians and is native to Japan's freshwater rivers and streams.

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.

Soba, a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, is a popular Japanese dish that is often served cold with dipping sauce.