Hayao Miyazaki, one of the most famous and influential anime directors of all time, has created many classic anime films such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle.

In Japan, there is a sport called bo-taoshi that involves two teams trying to knock down each other's pole.

The Japanese Olympic Committee was founded in 1911 and Japan has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 1912.