When Tokyo was chosen to host the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 2013 bidding process, several commentators claimed that "Akira" predicted the future event. In 2017, "Akira" was referenced in several Tokyo Olympic promotions. In February 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic and 147 days before the Olympics, a scene in "Akira" which calls for the cancellation of the 2020 Olympics (147 days before the event) led to a social media trend calling for the cancellation of the 2020 Olympics. The Summer Olympics were eventually postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.