The Japanese green pheasant, also known as the "kiji," is the national bird of Japan and is often depicted in Japanese art and folklore.

The Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century saw the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the modernization of Japan.

The Allied occupation of Japan following World War II brought about major political and social changes, including the drafting of a new constitution and the abolition of the samurai class.