The earliest known Japanese animation was produced in 1907, and the first feature-length anime film was released in 1945.

The Himeji Castle in Himeji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful and well-preserved castles in Japan.

Shonen Jump, a weekly manga magazine published by Shueisha, has been a major influence on the development of anime and manga culture in Japan, and has produced many popular anime series such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto.