The Olympic opening ceremony was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Japan time that evening.
It was the height of summer, yet inside the Tokyo National Stadium there was hardly any feeling of heat.
This was a brand-new technology, and Takayuki found it quite impressive.
One hundred thousand people had gathered inside this massive stadium, whose total footprint ranked among the largest sports venues in the world.
It was also far larger than the Olympic venues in the original world.
Clearly, the Japanese government in this world had secured more funding and was more willing to invest heavily in the construction and development of sports facilities.
As a specially invited guest, Takayuki was seated in an area reserved for foreign dignitaries, senior officials, and major financial magnates.
This section also offered the best view of the Olympics and the opening ceremony, providing a full panorama of the entire stadium.
"Mr. Takayuki, it really has been a long time."
Takayuki arrived at the Olympic venue with his wife and daughter and proceeded toward his seat via a private passage.
A voice called out to him. Takayuki recognized it immediately. Smiling, he turned around and said, "Mr. Hayakawa, it's been a while. How have you been lately? Busy with affairs?"
Hayakawa Uehito was dressed in traditional Japanese formal attire, something worn only on very formal occasions in Japan. In contrast, Takayuki was dressed casually, making the two look somewhat mismatched.
Hayakawa Uehito was born into a textbook example of a Japanese zaibatsu family.
Suri Electronics had risen to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, and to this day still held considerable social influence in Japan.
In the video game sector, Suri Electronics couldn't compete with Gamestar Electronic Entertainment, but in the broader electronics field, Suri Electronics had very few rivals worldwide.
Even many of Micfo's smart hardware products relied on Suri Electronics' technology.
Suri Electronics was one of the world's earliest giants to establish technological monopolies, and it was one of the companies that embodied Japan's national pride.
While many other companies were swept away when the economic bubble burst—even the automotive industry was severely damaged—Suri Electronics, which held numerous modern technology patents and even participated in setting industry standards, continued to live quite comfortably.
At this moment, Hayakawa Uehito appeared rather high-spirited.
Although Suri Electronics' development in video games wasn't particularly strong, it had at least achieved steady profitability after years of operation.
Its other sectors had even experienced modest growth thanks to advances in AI technology.
In fact, Hayakawa Uehito felt he ought to thank Takayuki.
Without Takayuki's massive early investment in AI development, Suri Electronics wouldn't have regained its technological monopoly so quickly.
Aside from semiconductor chips, Suri Electronics ranked at the top in nearly every other technical field—especially displays, lenses, image sensors, audio chips, and related components, all of which had been generating enormous profits recently.
As Japanese companies, Gamestar Electronic Entertainment and Suri Electronics often maintained a relationship that was both cooperative and competitive.
Sometimes they worked together to crush foreign competitors; other times they fought fiercely in the video game and film industries—only for Suri Electronics to then turn around and pay Gamestar Electronic Entertainment a hefty licensing fee for the Unreal Engine.
Because of this, when Takayuki and Hayakawa Uehito met, there was no jealousy typical of rivals. Instead, they treated each other as equals—occasionally sparring, but never excessively.
Hayakawa Uehito smiled. "Some of our industries have been developing quite well lately. But in video games and film culture, you're still the stronger one."
Takayuki replied modestly, "That's just virtual industries. You're more reliable in the real economy. Some of the components in my consoles still rely on your patents."
Hayakawa Uehito immediately responded with humility. "As long as it helps your consoles, that's good. I hope we can continue to grow upward together, without being distracted by matters beyond fair competition."
The two exchanged mutual flattery. Having spent over twenty years in this world and possessing more than thirty years of social experience from his previous life, Takayuki was naturally no novice in such exchanges.
Hayakawa Uehito, now in his sixties, was no match for Takayuki in verbal sparring. Internally, he couldn't help but sigh—this man truly deserved the admiration of even his own father. The older Hayakawa grew, the more clearly he could see how formidable Takayuki was.
Thus, amid polite corporate compliments, the two continued walking into the venue.
Along the way, they encountered many politicians, officials, and financial magnates.
Their feelings toward Takayuki and Hayakawa Uehito were rather complicated.
They themselves were already old, while Takayuki was still in his prime, with many years of struggle ahead. Although Hayakawa Uehito was also in his sixties, with modern lifespans reaching well into the eighties given proper care, he still had at least another twenty years to fight in the business world.
As for those magnates already in their eighties, they counted each day carefully, cherishing what time they had left.
The envy in their eyes was genuine. If they could be twenty years younger, they too would have wanted to join the clash of emerging technologies.
The internet, electronic technology, AI, cloud computing—each represented enormous profits. Unfortunately, those magnates who had failed to keep up with the times had already fallen behind.
They could only watch as people like Takayuki rose rapidly.
At least companies like Suri Electronics still existed under the umbrella of traditional financial conglomerates, which was some consolation.
As for Gamestar Electronic Entertainment…
That company was a complete anomaly. It had risen independently, almost without relying on any external capital. Only a steadfast five percent of its shares remained in the hands of the Japan Economic News Agency, but that stake had virtually no influence over the company's decisions. Gamestar Electronic Entertainment was truly an independent new force in Japan.
In a society built on personal connections, Takayuki couldn't afford to be overly aloof because of his status—after all, he was still developing within Japan.
Besides, exchanging a few words with these old figures cost him nothing.
Takayuki greeted them all, becoming mutually acquainted.
In the end, Takayuki and Hayakawa Uehito took their seats together in the most prominent area of the Olympic stadium.
The time was approaching 7:00 p.m. Japan time.
The Prime Minister was ready to deliver his speech, formally declare the opening of the Olympic Games, raise the national flag, and begin the officially arranged Olympic music.
"Quick, quick! Honey, today is the Olympic opening ceremony. No matter what, I have to watch this live!"
In one household, a man and his child were excitedly preparing to watch television.
The woman was a bit reluctant, as her TV drama was about to reach its finale.
But since her husband insisted, she couldn't refuse. Besides, she soon realized that nearly every TV channel was broadcasting the Olympics, and her drama had been postponed anyway—so her mood settled.
Still, she couldn't quite understand it.
Why would her husband, who normally had no interest in sports, suddenly want to watch the Olympics?
Was he just joining in the hype?