The 16th century saw the rise of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, who were instrumental in unifying Japan under a centralized government.
Japan's economic miracle in the post-war period saw rapid economic growth and development, making it one of the world's leading economies.
Karaoke, a popular form of entertainment in Japan, originated in Kobe in the 1970s.