Yakiniku, a dish made with grilled meat and vegetables, is a popular Japanese dish that is often served in restaurants where diners cook the meat themselves at the table.

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.

The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and subsequent tsunami devastated Japan's northeast coast and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.