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From Monday, January 6 to Friday, January 10, 2025, CES (Consumer Electronics Show) was held in Las Vegas. Four young employees (two men and two women) from Fuji Denko, each with their own theme, participated, along with me, making a total of five attendees.

Although our CES training program was interrupted by COVID-19, this year marked the 15th time Fuji Denko employees have participated in CES. This history highlights not only the weight of time, but also the many social, economic, and international changes that have occurred during this period.
In recent years, Russia’s unilateral invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the massacre of many Ukrainian civilians, the abduction of numerous children and women, and the continued destruction of cities—three years into the Ukraine–Russia war. In addition, Hamas suddenly entered Israeli settlements in Gaza, killing many Israelis and abducting innocent women and children as hostages, triggering the Israel–Hamas conflict. In retaliation, Israel has repeatedly carried out extensive destruction of Gaza, resulting in the killing of many civilians. In particular, the Ukraine–Russia war has plunged EU countries and former Soviet-controlled Eastern European nations into great turmoil.

Against this backdrop of significant global events, CES 2025 was held. Security checks at Las Vegas Airport and baggage and body inspections at CES venues were far stricter from anything I had experienced at previous CES events. The number of security staff fell nearly five times greater than before.
During CES, there was also a bombing incident involving a Tesla Cybertruck at the entrance of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, owned by Donald Trump. At the same time, the funeral of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was held as a state funeral in Washington, D.C. Additionally, massive wildfires broke out in multiple locations around Los Angeles, particularly in Pacific Palisades, forcing approximately 100,000 people to evacuate and destroying homes, schools, public facilities, churches, and restaurants. Firefighting efforts involved more than 30 large jet aircraft, repeatedly dropping red fire retardant and water—about 100,000 gallons (approximately 400,000 liters) at a time—onto the fires. Even on January 13, when we returned to Japan, the wildfires had not yet been fully extinguished. While these simultaneous events were tragic, they were also rare experiences we witnessed in real time.

The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of Delta Air Lines. This event went beyond a single company or business and redefined not only CES as a whole, but the very history of CES keynotes. Delta’s business philosophy emphasizes using digital AI while never forgetting the importance of human analog connection (reference: Digital Brain Crisis by Kuniyoshi Sakai, Asahi Shinsho). Delta Air Lines, the first commercial airline in the United States, is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and offers highly efficient connections across the country. In the keynote, CEO Ed Bastian showcased employees from all job functions (both live and on video) highlighting the deep relationship between people and their work. This 100th anniversary keynote was the first in CES history to combine a live show and concert in Las Vegas, creating an innovative experience where attendees and organizers could enjoy CES together.

The venue was SPHERE, a massive spherical venue equipped with cutting-edge visual and audio systems and a capacity of 18,600 people, often used for large-scale live concerts in Las Vegas. Unlike traditional keynote presentations, this event was a collaboration of many specialized electronics businesses, a true convergence of talent. Multiple staff members were stationed throughout the venue to convey messages in sign language, ensuring thoughtful analog support. Delta Air Lines’ in-flight meals were distributed for free, and Delta Members received special commemorative items such as T-shirts, caps, and towels. People even enjoyed standing in long lines, something rarely seen in the U.S.