
Cyberpunk manga Akira debuted in 1982—over thirty years ago. The manga, and subsequent anime, are set against the backdrop of the forthcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Er, I mean the 2020 Neo-Tokyo Olympics. The impending games and Neo-Tokyo Olympic Stadium do factor into the plot (for example, Akira is housed in a cryogenic chamber below the stadium, and the Olympic grounds house a military base.)
The upcoming Olympics are even mentioned in the original Japanese theatrical trailer for the 1988 feature film, which is, of course, based on the manga.
![[Image via Rakuten]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/kqgugcjigoeoq2yamcx7.png 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/kqgugcjigoeoq2yamcx7.png 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/kqgugcjigoeoq2yamcx7.png 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/kqgugcjigoeoq2yamcx7.png 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/kqgugcjigoeoq2yamcx7.png 1600w)
The sign for the Olympic site that appears in the film reads: “147 Days Until the Tokyo Olympics.” Under that, it reads, “With everyone’s effort, let’s make this a success.” The sign says this is the 30th modern Olympic games (it will actually be a the thirty-second).
![[Image via Patrick Macias]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/pruzfgdmj1g28h7tjulb.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/pruzfgdmj1g28h7tjulb.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/pruzfgdmj1g28h7tjulb.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/pruzfgdmj1g28h7tjulb.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/pruzfgdmj1g28h7tjulb.jpg 1600w)
Via Patrick Macias, here’s Olympic Stadium—in somewhat of a disarray!
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/scrqukaverg5tjrfhjm9.png 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/scrqukaverg5tjrfhjm9.png 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/scrqukaverg5tjrfhjm9.png 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/scrqukaverg5tjrfhjm9.png 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/scrqukaverg5tjrfhjm9.png 1600w)
If you are wondering what the Neo-Tokyo games could look like, maybe they’ll light the torch...
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/dqk9ssf2jboi4u6qgefm.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/dqk9ssf2jboi4u6qgefm.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/dqk9ssf2jboi4u6qgefm.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/dqk9ssf2jboi4u6qgefm.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/dqk9ssf2jboi4u6qgefm.jpg 1600w)
WITH A LASER.
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/xb3ozglkpvhtddjnpdwr.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/xb3ozglkpvhtddjnpdwr.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/xb3ozglkpvhtddjnpdwr.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/xb3ozglkpvhtddjnpdwr.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/xb3ozglkpvhtddjnpdwr.jpg 1600w)
The Olympic Torch might be something like this. What about events? According to Naver, they could look like...
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/zby8bnxsfrvjfaf4uf4s.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/zby8bnxsfrvjfaf4uf4s.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/zby8bnxsfrvjfaf4uf4s.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/zby8bnxsfrvjfaf4uf4s.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/zby8bnxsfrvjfaf4uf4s.jpg 1600w)
The hurdles.
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/fmporp7unqccus3b81es.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/fmporp7unqccus3b81es.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/fmporp7unqccus3b81es.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/fmporp7unqccus3b81es.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/fmporp7unqccus3b81es.jpg 1600w)
Wrestling.
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/pqnaibfquvrftdswgsds.png 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/pqnaibfquvrftdswgsds.png 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/pqnaibfquvrftdswgsds.png 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/pqnaibfquvrftdswgsds.png 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/pqnaibfquvrftdswgsds.png 1600w)
Pole vault. Or Javelin. Take your pick, really.
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/pkwlwnguszfwil1wcvah.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/pkwlwnguszfwil1wcvah.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/pkwlwnguszfwil1wcvah.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/pkwlwnguszfwil1wcvah.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/pkwlwnguszfwil1wcvah.jpg 1600w)
Swimming? Diving? Long jump?
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/nxqqejbiih62zfvomkco.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/nxqqejbiih62zfvomkco.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/nxqqejbiih62zfvomkco.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/nxqqejbiih62zfvomkco.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/nxqqejbiih62zfvomkco.jpg 1600w)
Water polo. (I guess.)
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/uhpvthq6ymkfzkigeilo.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/uhpvthq6ymkfzkigeilo.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/uhpvthq6ymkfzkigeilo.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/uhpvthq6ymkfzkigeilo.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/uhpvthq6ymkfzkigeilo.jpg 1600w)
High jump. Very high jump.
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/gfmgybqauxcefhauie77.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/gfmgybqauxcefhauie77.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/gfmgybqauxcefhauie77.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/gfmgybqauxcefhauie77.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/gfmgybqauxcefhauie77.jpg 1600w)
Shot put.
![[Image: Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/vaxo95vi8vsp9pbsdiwh.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/vaxo95vi8vsp9pbsdiwh.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/vaxo95vi8vsp9pbsdiwh.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/vaxo95vi8vsp9pbsdiwh.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/vaxo95vi8vsp9pbsdiwh.jpg 1600w)
Marksmanship.
Let’s hope this doesn’t mean Akira is going to get other things right, too. You know, like World War III.
![[Image via Naver]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/hrglvs5rmxwqma1puvvp.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/hrglvs5rmxwqma1puvvp.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/hrglvs5rmxwqma1puvvp.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/hrglvs5rmxwqma1puvvp.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/hrglvs5rmxwqma1puvvp.jpg 1600w)
This article was originally published on September 9, 2013.
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DISCUSSION
Freestyle Mutating.