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

The Honda Civic, first introduced in 1972, is one of the most popular and enduring Japanese cars of all time, with over 18 million units sold worldwide.

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