The Todaiji Temple in Nara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha.

The Muromachi period, which lasted from the 14th to the 16th century, was a time of great artistic and cultural achievement, including the development of tea ceremony and the Noh theater.

Japan's surrender in World War II was announced on August 15, 1945, and marked the end of the war in the Pacific.