When Does "AKIRA" (1982) Take Place?
"AKIRA" is a science fiction comic-book written by Katsuhiro Otomo that premiered December 6th, 1982. So when is "AKIRA" set?
It takes place in the year:
We know this because the first issue's 1982 AD prologue ends with a textbox that reads, "NEO-TOKYO 38TH YEAR (2019)." Presumably, this is counting January 1983 AD as the first year of a new fictional era, making 2019 AD. The traditional Japanese eras calendar does line up perfectly with the Gregorian calendar.
2019 AD
We know this because the first issue's 1982 AD prologue ends with a textbox that reads, "NEO-TOKYO 38TH YEAR (2019)." Presumably, this is counting January 1983 AD as the first year of a new fictional era, making 2019 AD. The traditional Japanese eras calendar does line up perfectly with the Gregorian calendar.
12.1,982 + 38 = 12.2,020.
Additionally, the first installment includes a short prologue that begins with white free-floating text reading: "AT 2:17 P.M. ON DECEMBER 6TH, 1982, A NEW TYPE OF BOMB WAS USED IN THE KANTO REGION." So it is most likely December of 1982 AD at this time.
In some American editions the text at the opening of the prologue is changed to "DECEMBER 6TH, 1992"... "EXPLODED OVER THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF JAPAN." and the textbox at the beginning of the main action is moved to a new page and changed to "NEO-TOKYO CITY, 38 YEARS AFTER WORLD WAR III (2030 AD)". In these versions, the main action probably takes place in 2030 AD and the prologue probably takes place in December of 1992 AD.
12.1,992 + 38 = 12.2,030.
It was partially adapted to animation in 1988, as a video game in late 1988 and, again, loosely as a video game in 1994.
