Kitakyushu is a major industrial city in southwestern Japan, located on the island of Kyushu, and is known for its steel and automotive industries.

The bullet train (Shinkansen), which began operation in 1964, was the first high-speed train system in the world and is still one of the fastest.

The Japanese automotive industry has a strong focus on research and development, with many companies investing significant resources in developing new technologies and products.