Kobe is a port city on Japan's western coast, and is known for its beef, hot springs, and scenic views of the sea and mountains.
The airbag, which was co-invented by Yasuzaburo Kobori and Allen K. Breed in the 1980s, has become a standard safety feature in automobiles worldwide.
Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, which marked the beginning of its aggressive expansion in Asia prior to World War II.