Japan is a constitutional monarchy, with the Emperor as a symbolic head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government.

The Japanese macaque, also known as the snow monkey, is the northernmost-living non-human primate and is famous for its habit of bathing in hot springs during the winter.

The Allied occupation of Japan following World War II brought about major political and social changes, including the drafting of a new constitution and the abolition of the samurai class.