Osaka is Japan's third-largest city and a major commercial and industrial hub, with a population of over 19 million people in the greater Osaka area.

The 1964 Tokyo Olympics marked Japan's re-emergence on the world stage and showcased the country's modernization and technological advancements.

Kitakyushu is a major industrial city in southwestern Japan, located on the island of Kyushu, and is known for its steel and automotive industries.