Japan's victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was the first time an Asian power had defeated a European power in a modern war.
The 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult shocked Japan and led to increased scrutiny of religious groups.
Kawasaki is a major industrial city located between Tokyo and Yokohama, and is known for its heavy machinery and technology industries.