Japan hosts the opening race in Pixar's Cars 2.
The film begins with the first race of the World Grand Prix in Tokyo, Japan. Lightning McQueen competes internationally against racers including Francesco Bernoulli, while Mater becomes involved in a spy adventure separate from the main competition.
Tokyo gives the sequel a markedly different setting from the American roadside landscape of the first Cars. The World Grand Prix later continues in Porto Corsa, Italy, and London, England, making the three locations important parts of the story.
Japan is therefore the opening venue, not merely one of the countries visited. Cars 2 was released in 2011 and was directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis.