The earliest known Japanese animation was produced in 1907, and the first feature-length anime film was released in 1945.

Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama in 1984, is one of the most popular and influential anime franchises of all time, and has inspired numerous spin-offs, video games, and merchandise.

The Shiretoko National Park in Hokkaido is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular destination for wildlife watching, with opportunities to see brown bears and rare bird species.