Japan's popular culture is significantly influenced by technology, sports, music, and leisure hobbies. Statistically, young Japanese are an especially enthusiastic consumer group of electronics, and Japan's cellular phones, video games, and digital photography equipment are some of the most advanced electronic products in the world. The Japanese enjoy spectator sports such as baseball and sumo, and developed a stronger interest in soccer due to the FIFA World Cup Games held in Japan and South Korea in 2002. Japanese students avidly participate in soccer, baseball, and the martial arts, while many adults enjoy jogging, table tennis and golf. Japan's pop music industry, often called "J-Pop", defines a large part of youth popular culture. Products from cosmetics to cars that are endorsed by the hippest J-Pop singers or groups sell quite well in the consumer market. Some of the popular culture leisure hobbies that Japanese enjoy are travel within Japan and abroad, karaoke, and shopping, and these pursuits are heavily marketed. Japanese-designed video games, karaoke, anime, and products made by corporations such as Sony, Honda, or Panasonic are all part of Japanese popular culture that is intertwined with popular culture in the United States.

- ex. Cosulate General of Japan in San Francisco -

Bonsai is the cultivation of trees and plants in miniature so that the plant's natural beauty is shaped and emphasized. Bonsai were introduced to Japan via China during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and became a conventional hobby in the 1800's. In tending to a bonsai so that it achieves its maximum beauty, growers must carefully guide and care for the plant's natural shape. Raising bonsai is an ongoing process and its daily care continues for the duration of its life. The most common bonsai trees are pine, maple, cherry, plum, and persimmon. Although raising bonsai is time-consuming, many growers gain great satisfaction from the hobby's aesthetic and emotional pleasures.

- ex. Cosulate General of Japan in San Francisco -

Udon is an intimately familiar food to every Japanese. In particular, Udon of Kansai(Osaka/Kyoto) region is known for its depth of flavor with its rich broth. Udon dishes are named according to the ingredients added to the noodles, and Kitsune-udon, which contains abura-age(fried soybean curd), is the most popular dish.

The literal "okonomiyaki" means "cooked as you like it". So, according to the diner's own individual preference, it is made by adding a variety of different ingredients to a base of grated yam, wheat flour, water, cabbage, and eggs, pouring the mixture onto a griddle, and frying it like a pancake. After cooking, Okonomiyaki is flavored with brushed-on Worcestershire-style type sauce and mayonnaise, topped by a sprinkling of aonori (dried seaweed powder) and dried bonito flakes.

Takoyaki is very popular as a light meal or afternoon snack in Osaka, and it is said that the number of Takoyaki stores is 5,000 or even 10,000. Made by adding diced octopus to a liquid paste of wheat flour and pouring the mixture into round metal molds to fry into little balls. We can buy Takoyaki cheaply and eat it while it is still hot.