he Japanese media has been quick to note that Tokyo’s clinching of the 2020 Olympics was predicted by no less a classic Akira, with the 1988 movie’s 2019 Neo-Tokyo being in the run-up to a singularly ill-fated Olympics.


With lines from the movie saying “next year’s Olympics will see it becoming a park,” signs bearing the legend “Tokyo Olympic Construction Area” and a variety of sports facilities reduced to rubble in the course of the film.


Whilst an interesting coincidence, having failed dismally in its predictions of a post-apocalyptic Tokyo (although further earthquakes and TEPCO’s incompetence could yet change this) riven by biker gangs, Akira is hopefully not in much danger of becoming prophetically uncanny.