INITIAL D CHARACTER GUIDE
by Darrell Wong (DKW 001)
i. Stuff for CJayC
ii. Version history
iii. Why I'm doing this
iv. References
1. ABOUT NICKNAMES
2. DRIVERS AND TEAMS
3. PROJECT D
4. REGULARS AND SEMI-REGULARS
5. RACERS COME AND GONE
6. MISC.
7. ARCADE STAGE POWER RANKINGS
8. OBLIGATORY SMART-ALECKY AFTERTHOUGHT
Whenever I give two numbers under "first volume", the first number refers to the
first time the character appears at all (flashback, unidentified spectator,
etc.), and the second is when the character's identity is actually determined.
Corrections to anything in this guide welcomed and appreciated.
This is a continuous work in progress. Future updates pending the release of
new translated manga.
i. Stuff for CJayC
------------------
Date completed: 3/15/07
Version: 6.0
E-mail: dkw001@hawaii.rr.com
ii. Version history
------------------
6.0 - Getting close to complete on this (barring v4, of course). All the racers
are up; will complete them in due time.
Current translated manga: 25 volumes
iii. Why I'm doing this
-----------------------
It's pretty much the same reason I do any FAQ: People need it, and nobody did it
before me. There's been a lot of confusion (not to mention more than a little
hand-wringing) over the supposed "name changes", and I know a lot of videogamers
aren't aware of the original names, let alone the source material. So, in the
spirit of that classic manga with an incredible amount of violence and a deep,
layered storyline being used as the premise for a freakin' pad slapping game,
this one's for all of you. And you all know who you are.
iv. References
--------------
There are many websites you can go to for the basic background information about
Initial D. There is, of course, Tokyopop's online site, www.tokyopop.com (look
under "Books"); inital-d.com is also very good. For discussion, the best place
I've seen is www.idforums.net.
1. ABOUT NICKNAMES
------------------
When Tokyopop got the exclusive rights to the translated Initial D anime, they
announced in a public memo that they had invented new names for nearly all the
important characters in the dub. They made a list of the original Japanese
names and the nicknames. When they started publishing the manga, they kept the
same nicknames.
Inventing easier-to-remember names and titles for anime has been common practice
ever since American anime companies existed, dating back to at least Space
Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers). In this case, it was purely a marketing issue
(something Tokyopop president Stuart Levy has actually stated on record).
Mainstream shonen has always been a hard sell in America...witness how quickly
Viz pulled the plug on Fist of the North Star and how long it took them pick up
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure...and street racing was *completely* uncharted
territory. There was also a card game and computer game in the works, making
the Initial D phenomenon far greater than most stateside anime, and making easy-
to-remember handles a definite plus. Devoted manga readers might have no
trouble with appellations like Keitaro Urashima or Sae Kashiwagi, but Tokyopop
obviously had qualms about foisting Koichiro Iketani and Itsuki Takeuchi on
mainstream America. Most Americans can't even get something as simple as "Ryu"
right, so this was a definite issue. And of course, they probably thought
nicknames were just plain cool, especially for participants in a dangerous
underground sport.
Tokyopop certainly didn't go as far as some companies, such as Dic, which made
incredible wholesale changes to the Sailor Moon dub. Remember, of course, that
Sailor Moon was shown on broadcast television, which inherently has far greater
restrictions than any DVD market.
Note that the nicknames, no matter how "Americanized", are just that,
*nicknames*, not changes to the established names. The manga (starting from
volume 3) always prints the complete real names in the profiles, and they crop
up in the dialogue all the time.
Now, as far as *Sega* is concerned, they aren't beholden to Tokyopop in any way,
so they could've done whatever they wanted, including using all real names.
Nonetheless, they went even further in "Americanizing" the game (take on either
TRS member in v2 and note what Dice supposedly stands to lose). Furthermore,
they gave nicknames for almost all the opponents, not just the ones Tokyopop
originally nicked. The big issue, of course, is that arcade games reach a
*much* bigger market than the typical anime or manga and are a lot more
restricted in how they can be presented. Marketability isn't the only issue,
either. For Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, for example, Capcom fudged up the names
of all the villians to avoid any potential legal hassles with the real-life
personalities the villains were named after. (This has always been Capcom
policy, BTW, as anyone familiar with the infamous M.Bison/Vega/Balrog mixup
knows.)
I should point out that Namco *did* go with all original names for Wangan
Midnight Maximum Tune, but this was completely unproblematic. No one has
seriously considered bringing the manga over, and even in the homeland it's at
best mildly famous. (You may have noticed that the comments made by the drivers
are word-for-word manga translations, something no American comic company ever
does.)
The Tokyopop nicks are Tak, Cole, Iggy, K.T., Ry, Zack, Maya, Simone, Kent,
Kyle, and Hawk. These coincide with the anime they have the rights to, i.e.
First Stage, Second Stage, and Extra Stage. There is no television deal in the
works and no attempt to acquire Third or Fourth Stage, so there will be no more
nicks. All other nicknames are Sega's.
** Obligatory snarky afterthought **
If you strongly desire to avoid Westernizing Japanese names, make sure you
always use one of the three Japanese writing systems, kanji, hiragana, or
katakana, when writing them. Using English letters to render Japanese names is
itself Westernization, and in a sense even more insulting because those are
words that actually mean something in Japanese. And since putting a kanji,
hiragana, or katakana name in an English sentence would be equally
inappropriate, you should write any sentence with a Japanese name in Japanese.
Of course, you'll want to have a reliable translation dictionary on hand, and
you should also learn the rudiments of sentence structure, context,
pronounciation, etc. if you haven't already. If you're going to discuss Initial
D at any length, it might be a good idea to learn the Japanese language entirely
and always use it when talking about In...sorry, Karashimonji D.
Too complicated? Not worth the trouble? Sega probably thought so too. :-)
2. DRIVERS AND TEAMS
--------------------
Most of the drivers in Initial D belong to non-professional racing teams. With
few exceptions, they are very serious about the sport and highly driven to win.
The larger teams are divided into strict hierarchies, with the top drivers
making up the "first stringers", the good but not elite making up the "second
stringers", and so on. Most teams are tied to a specific mountain or geographic
area, but rootless teams which travel far and wide for competition also exist
(Project D is the most obvious example).
Rivalries between teams run deep and invaribly lead to explosive showdowns, and
even grudges within a team can cause havoc.
The teams in Initial D and their overall status -
Akina Speed Stars: A relatively young team at the start of Initial D, founded by
its current leader, Cole. They're completely tied to Akina and never even
entertain challenges to race elsewhere. A *very* weak squad, they get hammered
by virtually everyone who shows up, and even Cole usually doesn't have a prayer.
The majority of the members never battle at all. (This is all perfectly
understandable, of course, as they're pretty much just in it for fun and
camaraderie; they're not trying to conquer the country.) The team gained a small
measure of respect while Tak was racing for them, but now that he's moved on,
they've returned to their old level of hopelessness.
Akagi Red Suns: One of the most powerful, prestigious racing teams in the
country. It also has a long history; it existed at the time Bunta was an active
racer. Boasting some of the best first *and* second stringers anywhere, they're
a force to be reckoned with wherever they go. In fact, they make it a point of
honor never to race on their home turf unless challenged there, because a Red
Sun never takes the easy way out. The few unfortunate losses to the invincible
Trueno and the eventual defection of the Takahashi brothers are the only major
setbacks this team has experienced.
Myogi Night Kids: Something of a black sheep in the world of street racing,
they're often plagued by internal struggles and never all that popular even on
Myogi. Supposedly still an important team at the start of the manga, but
they're quickly overshadowed by the Tak-driven Trueno and the Takahashi
brothers. No major victories of note.
Emperor: A team specializing in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4; only the
leader, Kyle, has something different (a LanEvo 3). Their goal is simple...the
complete conquest of every other team in the country. Their rival is whatever
the next team is; their battlefield is where they find the team. Overall,
they're a very powerful team, but things don't go well for them once they meet
up with the future members of Project D...
Impact Blue: This is simply the flashy handle Maya and Simone gave themselves.
See their section for details.
SSR ("Seven Star Racers" in Arcade Stage): More like a racing club than a
hardcore win-at-all-costs team. Their home is Momiji Line.
Todo Racing School: A well-respected, prestigious racing school which has turned
out numerous professional racers.
Saitama Northwest All-stars: I think this is called something slightly different
in the manga. It's pretty much how it's portrayed in v3, a small alliance
founded by Nobu.
3. PROJECT D
------------
Ry hints to the forming of this team early in the manga, then finally does so
after Tak graudates from high school. It's purpose is nothing less than utter
domination of mountain racing in the entire country. No challenge is too
difficult, and no condition is too unreasonable.
=======
+ TAK +
=======
Real name: Takumi Fujiwara
Age at beginning: 18
First volume: 1
Former team: none
Car: Toyota Trueno AE86
Takumi is the star of the series. He learned a plethora of driving techniques
making tofu deliveries from his father's tofu shop, which he started doing at
the age of 13. Because of all the time he had to spend on the road, he grew
jaded to the prospect of "battling" (that's head to head racing for you
greenhorns). However, through circumstance and more than a little prodding from
his friends, he slowly got more and more invovled in the racing scene. After a
plethora of breathtaking wins against opponents most figured he had no chance
against, he joined Ry's Project D, intent on spreading his fame throughout the
entire country.
What's truly frightening about battling him is that he's not only good, he's
unbelievably lucky as well. He always catches a break when he needs it, and
nothing ever, *ever* goes wrong for him. This luck has actually been the key
factor in several of his spectacular wins. (He DID get a somewhat unlucky break
in the one race he actually lost, but absolutely nothing like it has happened
since.)
His car, a Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 hatchback, has always been a mystery.
Even its exact power has never been known...it originally had "150 horsepower
tops" according to Ry, which later went up to around 220 when Bunta installed a
new engine. Bunta has done innumerable modifications and upgrades in the time
he owned the car to the point where only he knew its full capabilities. Once
Project D began, Ry's mechanics did their own magic, so now there's no telling
how capable it is. One thing that's certain is that it's far more capable than
any Trueno should ever be. In fact, that's its biggest edge; Takumi's opponents
rarely expect a Trueno to be able to keep up with them, and when it does, they
simply don't know what to do. In reality, the Trueno (and the Corolla Levin,
which is almost identical) has about 120HP stock and isn't all that remarkable.
In fact, this actually ties in to one of the tenets of traditional shonen, the
hero accomplishing incredible feats he shouldn't be capable of.
Incidentally, he was never a Speed Star. He raced on their behalf a number of
times, but never officially joined. He was essentially a freelancer prior to
signing up with Project D.
Takumi is arguably the best driver in Initial D. As long as the race has any
skill...or luck...involved, it's a guaranteed win for him. So far he's had a
grand total of *one* loss in the entire run of the manga. That's how tough he
is. The only drivers who could possibly beat him in a clean race are Bunta,
K.T., and probably Touch. (One of the ironic things about Arcade Stage is that
you have to beat him on the Akina downhill, something no one in the manga has
ever accomplished.)
He's very much an introvert and rarely has much of an emotional response to
anything. He looks like he's half-asleep much of the day. Ironically, he also
has some very powerful, deeply ingrained moral beliefs (the source of which has
never been revealed), and if someone close to him goes against one of them, look
out. He's generally easygoing and forgiving otherwise. He's loyal to his
friends but doesn't coddle them; he expects a man to act like a man.
He undergoes far more development than anyone else in Initial D, even the other
regulars. His transformation over the first summer alone is overwhelming.
========
+ K.T. +
========
Real name: Keisuke Takahashi
Age at beginning: 21
First volume: 1
Former team: Akagi RedSuns
Car: Mazda RX-7 FD3S
Keisuke is one of the famed "Rotary Brothers", a pair of track racing phenoms
who seemed destined to charge unimpeded into the professional ranks. He very
well may have done so had his first street battle not shaped his destiny so
dramatically. It was against Tak, on Akina, a race everyone in attendance
expected Keisuke to win easily (except for, ironically, his brother).
Overconfident and inexperienced, he was utterly shocked not only to lose, but by
a hefty margin.
While Tak continued to rack up incredible victories on Akina and elsewhere,
Keisuke practiced tirelessly, working to overcome his flaws and maximize the
potential of his formidable FD. As one of the top drivers on the Akagi RedSuns,
one of the most prestigious driving teams in the country, he couldn't afford to
sit still. His efforts paid off when, in one of the most hotly contested uphill
battles in Initial D, he pulled off an incredible last-second pass to beat a
bitter rival on his home turf.
His and Tak's paths would cross several more times before they finally joined
for good with the forming of Project D. Keisuke has proven to be nearly as
impossible to defeat as Tak. Even with all his successes, however, he knows he
cannot be fully satisfied until he gets the one win he's always been
denied...against the black-and-white Trueno of Akina.
The RX-7 FD3S, which uses Mazda's famous rotary engine, is one of the most
powerful street-legal vehicles in the world, with breathtaking acceleration and
top speed. About it's only weakness is that it's a high-power FR vehicle
requiring precise control in the corners, but this is a cinch for a driver of
Keisuke's caliber.
Combining intelligence, talent, steel nerves, steadfast dedication to his art,
and of course his FD, Keisuke is an extraordinarily difficult opponent. He's
inarguably the driver who improves the most over the course of the manga, even
more impressive when you consider how formidable he was to begin with. Because
he has so much experience going uphill as well as downhill, he's arguably even
more well-rounded than Tak.
He has something of a split personality. He's courteous when dealing with those
close to him, especially his brother, but he gets a *really* nasty attitude
around other racers, especially a rival or stranger (something Zack, Danny, and
Aki all learned the hard way).
======
+ RY +
======
Real name: Ryosuke Takahashi
Age at beginning: 23
First volume: 1
Former team: Akagi RedSuns
Car: Mazda RX-7 FC3S
As the first son of a mega-wealthy medical family, Ryosuke was expected to carry
on the family tradition and become a doctor. For some reason, however, he could
never resist the call of the road. And so was born the legend of the "White
Comet", a mysterious FC driver who took on all challenges and could never be
defeated. His amazing skill quickly brought him to the top of the RedSuns
organization, where, alongside his brother K.T., he sought mountain racing
domination of the entire country.
Although Tak would put a snag in his ambitions, he wasn't discouraged. Even
after receiving an offer from a professional racing team to join, he disdained
the machinations of the professional game and held tight to his dream. His new
plan was to recruit Tak into a new team of elite drivers, one that would race
anywhere and take on all challenges. After he and Tak successfully staved off
the menace of team Emperor, he knew the time was right.
Now retired from active competition...so he says...he enjoys his status as
leader of Project D, where he can sit back, call the shots, and watch his men
utterly demolish team after team. Time is of the essence, though; he only has
one year before he has to start medical school and leave the world of mountain
racing for good. Even with Tak and K.T.'s phenomenal string of successes,
they'd be hard pressed to conquer the entire country in just one year. Meaning
that the White Comet just might soar once again...
The FC is an older model RX-7, less powerful than the FD but otherwise largely
the same. While supposedly inferior to modern racers, Ryosuke knows how to
squeeze every bit of potential out of it, and has notched up amazing wins over
more powerful cars (like Tak, just to a lesser extent).
With amazing intelligence, long years of experience, and an on-the-spot
analytical ability that borders on psychic, Ryosuke is by far the most
fundamentally sound driver in Intial D. If he can see it, he can figure it, and
if he can figure it, he can do it. About his only weakness is his tendency to
play down to weaker cars, like he did against the Trueno; he deliberately
limited his horsepower to force him to drift to win. (This overheated his tires
and gave Tak just the edge he needed.) His FC, an older model RX-7, doesn't have
quite the explosive power of a modern muscle machine, but with his abilities, it
hardly matters.
He's by far the most cordial of the Initial D racers, and his dress, manners,
and etiquette are always impeccable. He treats others with respect and never
loses control of his emotions. Should he be challenged or insulted, however, he
takes it very personally and never lets the offender forget it.
=========
+ DANNY +
=========
Real name: Kenta Nakamura
Age at beginning: 19?
First volume: 6
Former team: Akagi RedSuns
Car: Nissan Silvia S-14
Kenta was a young, cocky city racer K.T. took under his wing. Long on
enthusiasm but short on actual driving ability, he was anything but a delight to
work with, and he remained firmly mired in the ranks of RedSuns second-
stringers. Seeking a way to move up, he rashly challenged Tak to a downhill
rain battle at Myogi (being a RedSun, he had to prove himself by racing away
from his home course). The race went so badly for him that he quit before he
was even halfway down. He saw little action after that and eventually joined
Project D. He now does most of the gruntwork for the team: starting races,
timekeeping, scouting, etc.
Kenta idolizes K.T. to the point of obsession, and it's strongly hinted that he
wants to be "more than just friends". If so, K.T. has never reciprocated.
Not being anywhere near as wealthy as the Takahashis, he was able to make only
the most basic upgrades to his S14. Because it isn't a powerhouse, Kenta is
strictly a downhill racer, and even then his skills are limited (he did most of
his practice in rain to save his tires; he's never battled in clear weather).
Nonetheless, he does have some aptitude, and he'd be solidly in the middle of
the pack if he ever actually got the chance to race.
He's a cheeful, engaging young man and very friendly with his fellow RedSuns.
He also has a habit of sticking his neck out too far, something K.T. often has
to warn him against.
He's "Kent" in the Tokyopop manga.
4. REGULARS AND SEMI-REGULARS
-----------------------------
These men all have some relationship to the Project D members. They all fade
into the background somewhat after the start of Project D, but they never go
away completely.
========
+ IGGY +
========
Real name: Itsuki Takeuchi
Age at beginning: 18
First volume: 1
Team: Akina Speed Stars
Car: Toyota Levin AE85
Itsuki is Tak's lifelong buddy who developed a passion for fast cars from an
early age. He plays the "inept but lovable sidekick" role that's a staple of
shonen manga. He became a fan of mountain racing from a young age, mainly
because there wasn't much else to do as a kid in Akina and it was a thrill to
see what high performance vehicles were capable of. He's the catalyst for a lot
of things Tak gets involved with, including tangles with Zack, Hawk, and Aki.
His dream was to get a Levin AE86 and form a legendary downhill racing duo with
Tak a la the Rotary Brothers, but his lack of ability prevented it from reaching
fruition (and it was completely destroyed with the forming of Project D).
In addition to Tak, he's good buddies with fellow Speed Stars Cole and Kenji,
both of whom he idolizes.
Independently, he has a tulmultuous on-again off-again relationship with Kasumi
Akiyama (Aki's sister), and he's tried his hand at drifting. He hasn't had much
success at either.
He obtained his vehicle, a Levin AE85, from a dishonest car dealer who failed to
tell him that it was an 85 and not the 86 he wanted. While the 85 has the same
body as the 86, it's an economy car completely unsuited for racing. Its
greatest weakness is its single-cam engine which produces an incredibly weak 83
horsepower stock. (Itsuki eventually installs a turbocharger, but it doesn't
help much.) It's also unstable at high speeds, making even a single hard turn an
ordeal. Even racers who admire and respect the old 86 Trueno and Levin usually
have nothing good to say about the 85.
Despite a ferocious desire to improve and countless hours of practice, Itsuki
just doesn't have the talent, and the weakness of his 85 certainly doesn't help.
He's actually the opposite of Tak: his technical knowledge is pretty good, but
he has no idea how to put that knowledge into use. Not surprsingly, no one's
ever shown any interest in battling him. There are precious few drivers in
Initial D that he'd actually be favored against.
He's usually friendly, but he's prone to emotional outbursts and panic attacks,
particularly when he thinks someone is hiding something from him. He's fiercely
loyal to his family, car, team, and home, and brooks no insults to any. He's
proud of his technical knowledge and loves to share it. He gets a vicarious
rush from the feats better-equipped and -skilled drivers are capable of,
sometimes to the point of boasting of other people's ability.
========
+ COLE +
========
Real name: Koichiro Iketani
Age at beginning: 21
First volume: 1
Team: Akina Speed Stars
Car: Nissan Silvia S13
Koichiro is the leader of the Speed Stars. He plays the "older but vastly
inferior mentor" role frequently used in shonen manga. He's a hard worker and
has been at the Esso station (the gas station on Akina) longer than anyone.
Pretty normal for the most part, but he gets completely discombobulated whenever
the subject of girlfriends comes up (particularly due to his extremely ill-fated
romance with the only one he ever had). In the anime, he's known as "Iketani-
sempai", which Tak, Iggy, and even Kenji all use religiously.
He's best friends with Kenji and has a special fondness for Iggy. No
friendships outside of work and team have ever been indicated.
The Silvias are the workhorses of Nissan's high-performance lineup, with the S13
being one of the older models. It's fairly powerful (at least 230 horsepower
stock) and an FR, making it equally suitable for grip and drift. Koichiro has
made it his life's work, and the majority of his time, money, and attention goes
into this vehicle.
Since Koichiro's rarely had to battle, it's uncertain as to how good he really
is, but the general consensus is that he's at best mediocre. While he has a
good grasp of driving technique and his technical knowledge is sound, his
ability to actually beat anyone is dubious. Any of the second-stringers on any
of the major teams could take him easily. By far the lowest point comes when
the two mysterious visitors arrive at Akina...
Koichiro is not only friendly and likable to nearly everyone he meets, but
immensely compassionate as well. He never holds a grudge and can forgive even
the most despicable wrongdoer (something Shingo learned firsthand). He has some
unresolved macho issues, however, which directly led to the bitter breakup that
he can never talk about.
=========
+ KENJI +
=========
Real name: Kenji (no last name)
Age at beginning: unknown
First volume: 1
Team: Akina Speed Stars
Car: Nissan 180SX
The #2 driver on the Speed Stars, and Cole's lifelong buddy.
Very little else about him is known, his job, his hobbies, his relationships, or
even where he lives. His family name is never mentioned, or even his family,
for that matter. He apparently is well enough off that he can hang out at the
Esso station a lot despite not working there.
The 180SX is in about the same class as the Silvias. However, Kenji's battling
ability is completely unknown, inasmuch as...well, he's never battled. Ever.
There was a close call where it looked like he'd actually have to face K.T., but
of course Tak bailed him out. He may actually be faster on Akina than Cole, but
we'll likely never know for sure.
Kenji's pretty much an all-around nice guy, i.e. good to know and likable, but
never to be counted on in tough spot. His frustration at his girlfriend woes is
surpassed only by Cole's.
=========
+ BUNTA +
=========
Real name: Bunta Fujiwara
Age at beginning: 43
First volume: 1
Team: N/A
Car: Subaru Impreza WRX STi-V
Bunta, a champion racer in his younger days, now owns a tofu shop at the base of
Akina. He outwardly disdains the young street racers' "silly little turf wars",
but in reality has an active interest in the current touge scene, especially his
son Tak's involvement in it. In fact, he was instrumental in shaping the young
phenom's destiny and gradually bringing out his potential.
Aside from his tofu business (which he takes very seriously), his main passion
is driving incredibly fast. He not only practices his well-honed racing
techniques whenever he can, he continually works on both the Trueno (once his,
later given to Tak) and the newer WRX, coaxing every possible bit of speed from
both. His actual battling ability is unknown, since he's never had an actual
battle, but there's no question that he can turn in wicked timed runs if he has
time to prepare. He's also fond of insane stunts such as taking his hands off
the wheel for an entire drift (and making it through safely, of course).
He's a lifelong buddy of Yuichi Tachibana, the owner of the Esso gas station on
Akina, as well as Masashi, a mechanic from his racing days. He raised Tak as a
single father; his former wife (if any) has never been revealed. He has no
other known relationships.
The Impreza WRX is based on Subaru's World Rally Championship car of the same
name; in fact, WRX itself is based on WRC. It's powerful, easy to drift, and
very agile, making it an ideal vehicle for the twisty mountain roads of Japan.
It's something of a counterpart to Mitsubishi's Lancer, and the two cars have
been frequent rivals in WRC. Bunta always puts function over style, so all his
upgrades are "where it counts", with no fancy spoilers or side skirts or big
mufflers or any of that "ricer" junk.
Personality-wise, Bunta is an old-school Japanese father figure. Strict,
humorless, stubborn, doesn't take crap from anybody, but also fair-handed and
(usually) has good intentions. He also has the somewhat dubious distinction of
being the heaviest smoker in the manga.
========
+ KYLE +
========
Real name: Kyoichi Sudo
Age at beginning: unknown
First volume: 7/8
Team: Emperor
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 3
Kyoichi was born to run. Ever since he learned the meaning of the words "touge"
and "battle", it's been his eternal ambition to outdo rivals all over the
country. His rivalry with Ry is especially bitter; they've clashed on just
about every racing philosophy imaginable (particularly how skill at things like
autocross is applicable to the mountains).
He formed Emperor with the express purpose of beating Ry at his own game;
conquering the world of mountain racing and making Emperor a name to be feared.
For a while, it looked like he was going to succeed, as the LanEvo 4 army
demolished team after team. But just when it looked like he was going to
succeed, a string of crushing defeats, capped off by a close loss to (who else?)
Tak, stopped Emperor's momentum dead. The team still exists, but its ambitions
have been thoroughly crushed.
He spent the next few months following Project D, getting a read on Ry's
methods, and basically staring in awe at the endless winning streak of the
unbeatable FD and Trueno. He now continues to watch and wait patiently, knowing
that Project D has absolutely no margin for error, and one slipup by either
driver could spell the end. And if that happens, he'll be right there to pick
up where he left off...
The Lancer is Mitsubishi's flagship performance car. Like most other such cars,
it's gone through numerous design changes over the years, each new design being
an "evolution". The Lancer was originally designed as a rally car, giving it
explosive acceleration and tight cornering. Kyoichi went a step further by
installing a misfiring system, something almost unheard of outside of WRC.
Normally, a turbocharger (which all rally cars have) only runs when the foot is
on the gas, but a misfiring system burns gasoline within the ignition to keep
the turbo running constantly.
Kyoichi's single-minded dedication to the sport and the sheer power of his
LanEvo 3 make him a deadly opponent. He almost never makes a mistake and is
impossible to intimidate or rattle. His technical know-how is almost on par
with Ry's. In fact, one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of Initial D is why
he never went professional, since not only does he have the ability (and car)
for it, he also graduated from Todo Racing School.
He's cold, stubborn, unfriendly, and...not surprisingly...lonely. He has no
known close friendships or girlfriend.
=======
+ AKI +
=======
Real name: Wataru Akiyama
Age at beginning: unknown
First volume: 11
Team: Originally none, later joined Saitama NW All-stars
Car: Toyota Levin AE86
Wataru was a seemingly ordinary young man who showed up in Akagi out of the
blue. It turns out that, although not a member of any team, the passion for
battle was in his blood. Hailing from Saitama, he travelled long and hard in
search of suitable challengers. He threw down the gauntlet to the RedSuns, only
to be rebuffed by a spiteful K.T. Undeterred, he later discovered the Speed
Stars, and switched his attention to a more suitable target...the famed Trueno
of Akina.
Wataru is an unusual case, in that he doesn't race for hometown pride, or in
pursuit of an ideal, or as training for a professional career, or to settle
grudges, or even for the sheer joy of battle, but simply because he has a really
fast car. In fact, he's quick to accuse anyone who declines a challenge from
him of underestimating the power of his Levin.
His sister Kasumi follows him most places he goes, and her battles, although
they're a different kind, are almost as intense as his.
The Levin AE86 is the sister vehicle to the Trueno; its specs are essentially
the same. The only obvious difference is the headlights, which are fixed
instead of retractable. Wataru's Levin is equipped with a powerful supercharger
and top-of-the-line racing gauges, and he always stresses the importance of
being adequately equipped.
Wataru is at least an above-average driver, but he has nothing on any of the
real pros. Unfortunately, he has a bit of a macho attitude, and he'll only take
on difficult opponents. As a result, his touge career has been, to put it
mildly, less than stellar.
He's usually friendly, but can snap in an instant, and nobody ever knows for
certain what will trigger his temper. Surprisingly, he's not particularly
protective of his sister, although he's the first person to intervene when she
does something stupid or dangerous.
5. RACERS COME AND GONE
-----------------------
These are all disposable characters, none of whom have extensive biographies.
========
+ ZACK +
========
Real name: Takeshi Nakazato
First volume: 1/2
Last volume: 9
Team: Myogi Night Kids
Car: Nissan Skyline R32
Matches: 3
Takeshi was Tak's second opponent, making his challenge almost immediately after
K.T.'s defeat. He originally owned a Silvia S13 and was an accomplished
drifter, but later switched to the powerful, pure-grip Skyline. Why he made the
change, or for that matter how he was even able to afford it, has always been a
mystery. (The infamous confrontation with the white Skyline is an invention of
the anime and hence non-canon.) He's the current NightKids leader, but his hold
on power is tenuous (and it gets more tenuous over time).
Intially, nobody could touch Takeshi in the Skyline; he simply overpowered
everyone he met. In fact, the main reason he sook the legendary 86 was that no
one else was giving him a challenge. He soon, learned, however, that against a
real opponent, lack of skill can't be made up by the car, no matter how
powerful...
Takeshi has nothing but contempt for rotary engines, and he dismisses drifting
as flashy showboating that has no use in a race.
The R32 is a 380 horsepower beast that's also very stable and easy to handle.
It's equipped with an ATTESA-ETS system which controls power to the wheels based
on driving conditions, giving it ideal control on any terrain. It was so
dominant in circuit races in Japan...there wasn't another street-legal car that
could keep up with it...that they actually had to create a Skyline-only league.
About its only weakness is its weight, which causes it to understeer when
turning at high speed. Because of this, it actually takes some skill to race a
Skyline effectively on a mountain road.
==========
+ SHINGO +
==========
Real name: Shingo Shoji
First volume: 3
Last volume: 9
Team: Myogi Night Kids
Car: Honda Civic SiR II
Matches: 1
Shingo, the downhill specialist for the NightKids, was once an arrogant, self-
centered jerk. He even spun out Cole and then ripped his driving skills just to
get a match with the famed 86. Knowing that he didn't have a chance in a fair
fight, he set a harsh condition, the "Duct Tape Deathmatch", in which both
drivers had to tape their right hand to the steering wheel. This should've been
an easy win for him, but his arrogance got in the way, and Tak's incredible
adaptive ability took over...
Shingo has long been second only to Zack in the NightKids, and has, on more than
one occasion, claimed that he should be the leader. His ambitions were ended by
the battle with the 86 and eventually rendered meaningless by the Emperor
invasion.
He actually turns into a sympathetic character during Zack's later battles,
although he's powerless to stem the tide of the RedSuns and Emperor.
The Civic SiR2 is a pretty ordinary all-purpose vehicle from the factory, but
Shingo's extensive customization has turned it into a fierce sprinter on the
downhill. (With 180 horsepower, it isn't really suited for uphill racing.)
=================
+ MAYA & SIMONE +
=================
Real names: Mako Sato, Sayuki
First volume: 4/5
Last volume: 6
Team: none
Car: Nissan Sileighty
Matches: 1
A racer/navigator team that calls themselves "Impact Blue". Mako is the driver,
while Sayuki scouts the course and later gives instructions, much like a rally
navigator.
Mako was inspired to get into racing by the exploits of the mysterious White
Comet (Ry). Something of a loner in college, she took up driving to give
herself some purpose in life. She eventually became a master of her home
course, Usui, so much so that other racers wouldn't even take her on anymore.
In her regular life, she was the stereotypical submissive Japanese lady, very
shy and retiring and quiet. However, behind the wheel of her Sileighty, she's a
ferocious driver who's afraid of nothing. Her driving has actually scared off
more than a few prospective boyfriends, and she's slowly grown resigned to the
fact that she'll never have a man.
Sayuki is almost the polar opposite of Mako. Loud, exuberant, energetic, and
never without a boyfriend...or several. She fully supports Mako's passion for
the road and exhorts her to do her best.
Mako had a relationship with Cole a long time ago, but...well, let's just say
that it didn't end too good for her. Or him.
The Sileighty is a 180SX with the front clip (hood, headlights, fenders, etc.)
replaced with the parts from a Silvia. The first Sileighties were created when
drifters who suffered head-on collisions in 180SXes made repairs with cheaper,
backwards-compatible Silvia parts. This unusual combination became so popular
that Nissan actually released a limited-edition series of "factory direct"
Sileighties. Performance-wise, it's essentially the same as a 180SX.
========
+ HAWK +
========
Real name: Seiji Iwaki
First volume: 7/8
Last volume: [I don't know yet]
Team: Emperor
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4
Matches: 2 (numerous others mentioned but not shown)
Seiji is the #2 driver in Emperor and Kyle's right hand man. Like Kyle, he
staunchly believes in the power of the LanEvo and doesn't see any car wihtout
all wheel drive and a turbocharger as a threat. During the Emperor invasion, he
met the driver of the legendary Akina 86 by chance, setting up the explosive
battle to come.
Prior to that battle, Seiji was the lynchpin of the Emperor conquest, easily
racking up the most wins over anyone not in Project D. He was especially brutal
on the Night Kids, demolishing them with utter ease on their own mountain.
Whenever he beat a team, he'd place their sticker, upside down and cut in half,
on his car's wing as a show of utter contempt for the team.
Unfortunately, there really wasn't much he could do to stop the irresistable
force of the future Project D...
The LanEvo 4 is widely believed to be the best Lancer of all; Seiji says it so
himself. It has almost no weaknesses to speak of.
=========
+ CAINE +
=========
Real name: Kai Kogashiwa
First volume: 15
Last volume: 16
Team: none
Car: Toyota MR-2
Matches: 1
Between Tak's grueling defense of Akina and the incredible feats he'd accomplish
on Project D, there was one pivotal battle that showed just how far he'd
progressed...against the master of Irohazaka, Kai Kogashiwa.
Kai literally came out of nowhere not long after the Emperor invasion was
crushed. He lived not far from Irohazaka, and he was digusted by all the Evos
that muscled in on his turf (his grudge against Kyle's noisy, smoke-belching Evo
3 was especially strong). He actually wanted to be the one to take down Kyle,
but since Tak beat him to it, there was only one way to show that Irohazaka was
truly his...
As if the battle didn't have enough tension, there was a powerful emotional
stake as well. Kai's father, Ken, was a bitter rival with Bunta Fujiwara for a
long, long time. Ken could beat just about everybody...except Bunta. Now Kai
had the chance to not only do what Emperor could not, but avenge his family's
honor.
He disappeared as quickly as he came, but the raw emotion poured into that one
battle ensured that he would not be forgotten for a long time.
The MR2, one of the world's most popular sport compacts, is light, responsive,
and smooth, making it great for a variety of racing venues. It's named after
the MR drivetrain: midship engine, rear wheel drive. The engine is not under
the hood, but directly behind the driver's seat, near the car's center of
gravity. Because of this, MR cars are extremely stable and almost impossible to
oversteer. The only weakness is a lack of weight in the front, making it more
susceptible to understeer.
========
+ MIKI +
========
Real name: Miki (no last name)
First volume: 1/16
Last volume: 17
Team: N/A
Car: Toyota Celica GT-Four
Matches: none
Miki was a classmate of Tak. They shared a tumultuous history, primarily over a
girlfriend, Natsuki Mogi. He has only one story arc (after graduation) and
isn't developed as a character. All that's known is that he has a thing for the
ladies and isn't very subtle.
Not a racer by any stretch of the imagination, his sole "battle" was an
unexpected clash with the mysterious Trueno of Akina in the snow (over the
aformentioned Natsuki). Suffice to say that it didn't end well for him.
There are numerous versions of the Celica, but the GT-Four is especially prized;
it's powerful, dependable, and sure-footed on slippery surfaces.
========
+ TORU +
========
Real name: Tooru Sugetsu
First volume: 17
Last volume: 18
Team: SSR
Car: Mazda Roadster
Matches: 1
He was one of the main drivers for SSR, the first team to go up against Project
D. He was a hard worker whose ability was praised by the locals who saw him at
work. His battle against Tak, however, would shatter all his illusions, as well
as show him the insane things some people were capable of.
He's notable among the entire Initial D pantheon as the only person to not only
have a steady girlfriend (who's bitterly opposed to street racing), but keep
her...by ultimately giving up street racing.
The Roadster, known as the Miata in the US, is a lightweight sporty compact
similar to the Toyota MR2.
=========
+ KAWAI +
=========
Real name: Atsuro/Junro (not clear which) Kawai
First volume: 17
Last volume: 18
Team: SSR
Car: Nissan Skyline ER34
Matches: 1
The other main man for SSR. Nothing about him is ever really revealed other
than that he loves power. K.T. is the one who races him, and it's over pretty
quickly.
The ER34 is a rarity, an FR Skyline. Because of this, it handles a lot more
like a "traditional" race car than most other Skylines.
========
+ DICE +
========
Real name: Daiki Ninomiya
First volume: 18
Last volume: 21
Team: Todo Racing School
Car: Honda Civic Type R
Matches: 1
One of the top prospects for Todo Racing School, with tremendous road sense and
an utter lack of fear. However, despite all his potential, his battle with Tak
showed that he wasn't quite the finished product yet. He's a very good friend
of Touch and ultimately brings him into the picture.
The Civic Type R is a powerful (180 HP) racer's version of the pedestrian Civic.
==========
+ SMILEY +
==========
Real name: "Smiley" Sakai
First volume: 19
Last volume: 21
Team: Todo Racing School
Car: Honda Integra Type R
Matches: 1
Another young TRS phenom, he relies on trickery and misdirection as much as
horsepower. His nickname comes from his habit of smiling when things are going
his way (which they usually do). It took a grim, determined effort from K.T. to
finally wipe that smile off.
The Integra is Honda's highly popular "standard" performance vehicle. It's one
of the more powerful FF vehicles, making preserving the front tires a priority
in any race.
=========
+ TOUCH +
=========
Real name: Tomoyuki Tachi
First volume: 18
Last volume: 21
Team: professional racer
Car: Honda Civic Type R (demo)
Matches: 1
A professional in some unspecified racing league and a graduate of TRS. He
staunchly refuses to come to the aid of his former school, seeing it as taking
the easy way out...but there's something about Tak and the Trueno that he just
can't resist, and he ends up racing for his own reasons. This is an unofficial
race (and never recorded on the Project D website), but that doesn't mean it's
not incredibly hard-fought...
The demo is a nonproduction model of the Civic Type R specially ordered by TRS
with unspecified capabilities.
=======================
+ TWO GUYS FROM TOKYO +
=======================
Real names: unknown
First volume: 22
Last volume: 22
Team: N/A
Car: Nissan Silvia Spec-R (S15)
Matches: none
A couple of pathetic know-nothing goofballs from the big city who visited Akina
one day looking for action. The driver's specialty is "Super Late Braking" into
a corner...i.e. fast in slow out, the exact opposite of how a racer is supposed
to take a corner. Incredibly, they do manage to one-up Cole, but then Tak gets
into the act, and predictably, it ends badly for them. They're never heard from
again.
The S15 is simply the latest Silvia model (at that point in Initial D).
Note: A couple sources refer to this pair as "Thunders" or "Thunderheads".
There's no such reference in the manga, and this pair is much, much too minor to
warrant a team name.
*** TO BE COMPLETED ***
=========
+ KYLIE +
=========
Real name: Kyoko Iwase
First volume: 22
Last volume:
Team: Saitama NW All-Stars
Car: Mazda RX-7 FD3S Spirit-R
College racer who develops a crush on K.T.
========
+ NOBU +
========
Real name: Nobuhiko Akiyama
First volume: 22
Last volume:
Team: Saitama NW All-Stars
Car: Toyota Altezza
Matches:
The brains behind the Saitaima NW team. Sees Ry as a rival.
=======
+ SID +
=======
Real name: Sakamoto (no first name)
First volume: 24
Last volume:
Team:
Car: Suzuki Cappuccino
Matches:
A "ringer" brought in by Nobu. Rally racer.
================
+ MAN IN EVO 5 +
================
Real name: unknown
First volume:
Last volume:
Team:
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 5
Matches:
================
+ MAN IN EVO 6 +
================
Real name: unknown
First volume:
Last volume:
Team:
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6
Matches:
6. MISC.
--------
Order of appearance in manga:
1-2 - Tak, Iggy 17 - Miki
3 - Cole 18 - Toru
4 - Bunta 19 - Kawai
5-6 - K.T., Ry 20 - Dice
7 - Kenji 21 - Touch
8 - Zack 22 - Smiley
9 - Shingo 23 - Two Guys
10-11 - Maya & Simone 24 - Kylie
12 - Danny 25 - Nobu
13-14 - Hawk, Kyle 26 - Sid
15 - Aki 27 -
16 - Caine 28 -
Non-drivers in the game:
Mr. Todo (v1): The founder and owner of Todo Racing School.
Fumihiro (v3): An announcer for the Red Suns and a longtime friend of the
Takahashis. Eventually does scouting for Project D.
Matsumoto (v3): Tak's assigned mechanic in Project D.
Characters not in the game:
Natsuki Mogi: Tak's girlfriend and classmate throughout high school. Her life
is tumultuous and rarely happy. Limited success in any of her relationships.
(This is the "Natalie" Miki refers to.)
Papa: Natsuki's supposed guardian who has an unsavory (and short) relationship
with her.
Yuichi Tachibana: The manager of the Esso gas station on Akina where Tak,
Iggy, and Cole work. A stern but fair boss who's a staunch ally of the Speed
Stars and cheerfully dispenses advice. Lifelong friend of Bunta.
Tsugumi: A cousin of the Takahashi brothers (exact relationship unknown...if
you haven't guessed, Initial D isn't very big on these). Minor character; shows
up from time to time.
Masashi: An ace mechanic who loyally served Bunta during his racing days.
He's the one who found and installed the new engine in the Trueno after the old
one became unusable, and he also obtained the WRX Bunta now drives. (This is
the "Masa" Bunta refers to in v2 Bunta Challenge.)
Tsukamoto: An old classmate of Tak with a superiority complex a mile wide.
He's so enamored with what he believes to be his incredible racing talents, he
never makes any effort to correct his mistakes. Easily the worst driver, racing
or otherwise, in the entire manga.
Ken Kogashiwa: Caine's dad and Bunta's fiercest rival during their racing
days. He has the distinction of being the only driver to beat Bunta in a match
race (he took one of three). The MR2 belongs to him.
Naho: Toru's girlfriend, very critical of his street racing exploits. And
yes, he really did hit her up for tire money in the manga. :-D
7. ARCADE STAGE POWER RANKINGS
------------------------------
++ VERSION 1 ++
1. Bunta - A phenomenal driver who makes no mistakes in what's easily the most
powerful car in LotS. The only reason you even have a chance against him is
because he eases up a bit after the Deadly Hairpins, and even then you MUST have
a flawless run. For a majority of the cars, he's completely unbeatable no
matter what.
2. Tak/Akina - He owns this run, so of course it's going to be hard. He's
only a few seconds slower than Bunta.
3. Ry - A cornering machine. Barely slows down in the hairpins; can make up a
100m deficit like nothing. The first really hard opponent.
4. Tak/Happogahara - The power of his Trueno is rightly feared, and you'll
have a hell of a time keeping him behind you. Beware his "blind attack", which
spells almost certain doom if it happens.
5. K.T./Happogahara - Pretty weak in the early going, but can clear the four
consecutive hairpins with blinding speed and will block you to death in the
fourth section. If you can't take the lead and keep it, it's his race.
6. Caine - You have to run hard just to catch up to him. Scrape even one
wall, and he is *gone*.
7. Zack - His R32's strength is full-throttle racing, and there's plenty of it
on Myogi. Much like Caine, you cannot afford to hit the wall, especially in the
Grande Curve.
Shingo and Aki are the next hardest opponents, then Iggy and K.T./Usui, and
finally Cole and Maya. No one else ever finishes the course on time, so their
ability is irrelevant.
++ VERSION 2 ++
1. Bunta - Not as dominating as in v1, but still a challenging matchup. Still
almost impossible to beat for some cars. If he gets by you even once, you're
finished.
2. Touch - The total package; blazing straightaway speed, ferocious
acceleration, crisp cornering, merciless blocking, and a tight line. His
passing windows close in instants.
3. K.T./Akagi - A bullet off the line and completely untouchable on the
straightaways; you're beating him in the corners or not at all. Best chance is
the rapid series of sharp corners near the top.
4. Tak/Akina - As with Bunta, if he passes you, the race is his. He actually
gets stronger in the final section, so you need a bigger lead than you'd might
expect.
5. Aki - Not especially fast, but has a very good line and will dog you like a
heatseeking missile every step of the way.
6. K.T./Irohazaka, Tak/Irohazaka (tie) - Not too difficult, but they run hard
on the straightaways and are well-versed in blocking. You should be able to
beat Tak easily by the time you get to him, but K.T.'s more than capable of
stealing a few wins, especially in the rain.
8. Ry - He always takes a big lead off the line and has tremendous speed on
the straights. He falters in the latter half, though. If he's still in sight
by the multiple medium turns the end, you have him. Overall, much easier than
in v1.
1st tier (contenders)
Sid - It all depends on your rain driving ability and how well you know Usui.
Impossible for some drivers, cake for others.
Kenji - He'll actually give you a pretty good challenge if you're not familiar
with the uphill on Akina. He never touches a wall and will impede you when you
get close.
Smiley - Surprisingly competitive, especially if you expect him to be as easy
as Dice. Not too powerful on the straightaways, but *very* quick out of the
corners. He'll make you work.
Caine - Not as fast as the Project D duo, but he has every inch of Irohazaka
mapped out, and he'll mercilessly nail every jump.
2nd tier (rookies)
Zack - His R32's lost quite a bit from v1. Avoid slamming the outside wall in
the big turn, and he's yours. You can even scrape the inside wall and still
have a good shot.
Nobu - He's got brains, no question...too bad he doesn't have the car to back
it up. His Altezza has trouble catching up even when you bump a wall.
Maya - On a high-speed circuit, she's mediocre at best.
Dice - Will be playing catch-up for nearly the entire race, and badly.
Cole - Even in Arcade Stage, this guy gets absolutely no respect. Unless you
really eat some walls, it's easy to stay ahead of him.
Kyle - A shadow of his manga self. Almost embarrassingly slow.
3rd tier (bums)
Iggy - 85 on Myogi...'nuff said.
Tak/Myogi - See above.
Shingo - It's Shingo. What more do you need to know?
Two Guys - Do just as well as you'd expect a couple mindless blowhards in an
S15 to.
Kylie - Doesn't even care if she wins, and it shows.
Danny - If he raced the rainwater, it'd be a tight contest.
Toru - Project D? He'd have trouble keeping up with a bus.
Hawk - Step 2: Use Simulation 3. Step 1: Learn how to drive.
++VERSION 3++
1. Tak/Tsuchizaka - In a word, tough. In two words, *insanely* tough. Unless
you're in something that's great on this course, he will cling like a rabid dog
to your tailpipe and rip by you if you make the slightest mistake. If he
doesn't completely blow you away from start to finish, that is.
2. K.T./Tsuchizaka - Not quite as overwhelmingly dominant as Tak, but
overwhelming enough. Frightening power on the straightaways; can turn a small
lead into a colossal lead in seconds.
3. Man in Evo 5, Man in Evo 6 (tie) - Mr. 5 is strong in the early going and
will try to open up a big lead before his final-section fade; his 6 buddy will
fight to stay ahead until the tunnel, attack you hard if he can't, and try to
hold the lead until the oil slick (if he succeeds, he's virtually untouchable).
Some cars are better against one than the other, but overall, they're the same.
Their finely-tuned Evos are well suited for a fast, technical course like
Tsuchizaka, and they give you little margin for error.
5. Aki - The power of his Levin on the tightest, twistiest course in the game
makes him an aggravating opponent. Prepare to attack hard and take the corners
with limited visibility (because he's always right in front of you) *and* bite
back seething rage when he pulls away again and again.
6. Ry/Tsuchizaka - A good test to see if you're ready to take on the masters
of Tsuchizaka. He always has a smooth, clean run; you'll want one as well.
7. Kylie - Starts out a strong, confident, capable woman...and gets more and
more girlish as the race progresses. As with Ry in v2, stay calm and keep her
close, and eventually she'll crack.
1st tier (the 50/50 gang)
Ry/Akina, Tak/Akina - Ry's very fast after the Right Hand of Doom but fades at
the end, while Tak's almost the opposite, slow in the beginning but fast at the
end. Their overall Akina times are about the same. It just a matter of how
good you are on Akina downhill; they're easy with a clean run, but almost
impossible if you screw up even one high speed corner.
Kyle/Irohazaka, Caine - Just like in the manga, a contrast in styles. Kyle
uses the full power of his Evo and fights hard to keep the lead. Caine drives a
tight line and makes his move on the jumps. Both can romp all over beginners
but fall easily to stronger players and cars.
2nd tier (the quartet of mediocrity)
K.T./Akagi - Maybe he just can't do downhill. Sluggish cornering; will let
you get away with a *lot* of mistakes.
Hawk - Finally starting to look like a real racer. Emphasis on "starting".
He's still pretty weak and has absolutely zippo drive on the homestretch.
Touch - What the hell happened? He used to drive like a pro and pose a real
challenge; now he's just a stumbling block.
Nobu - Keep the pressure on, and he'll invariably give you an opening you
could put a tank through, and he never threatens afterward. His Altezza's size
and great startup are the only reasons he isn't lower.
3rd tier (the huge pool of easy wins)
Kenji - Weak on the uphill, weak on the downhill, can't turn, can't
block...why exactly is he racing, now?
Shingo - How far has his stock fallen? He gets a massive speed boost on the
second lap, sometimes enough to pass you...and *it doesn't help*! He's still as
easy to blow away as Kenji.
Toru, Kawai, Maya - *Damn*, this is a weak squad. At least Sid could win SOME
of the time.
Two Guys - Some say the skill of the driver matters more than the car. I say
that if you have the same skill as these nimrods, you can be in an F1 car and it
wouldn't help.
Danny - If you're in something that's at least decent in the Akagi rain, he's
a pushover. If you're in something that's lousy in the Akagi rain...you're
still going to win. His corner exit speed is comparable to an SUV's, and even
his tremendous straightaway muscle can't save him.
Zack - The older he gets, the better he used to be. Slower than almost
everybody on almost every part of the course.
Kyle/Akina - In this case, saying that he doesn't consider it a real battle is
a wise precaution. Aki would destroy him on this run.
Dice, Smiley - Aren't they supposed to be budding professionals? If their
Happogahara record is any indication, they have a *long* way to go.
Big fat zero tier (the hopeless cases)
Iggy - Yes, Itsuki, it's the car. It's always been the car. And the course.
Get a real car and move to something with corners, and maybe someday you'll be
something other than Automatic 10,000 Points Kid.
Cole - His chances were once somwhere between nonexistent and marginal.
Marginal just crashed into the guardrail.
The wild cards (the lousy cheating bastards)
Miki - How tough he is depends <<COMPLETELY>> on how your car handles in the
snow. If you're in a Skyline, he's a minor annoyance. If you're in an RX-8,
he's literally tougher than Project D.
Sid - The rain makes a *huge* difference now, especially on wire-tight
Shomaru. If your car can handle it, outrunning an underpowered Cappuccino is no
sweat. If not, this may be an impossible battle.
Bunta - The deck's so ridiculously stacked in his favor, he may as well be
Tsukamoto. Not only is he on a course that maybe four cars are not pathetic on,
he has impossible straightaway speed (which, of course, has nothing to do with
skill). And of course, he'll gladly ram the daylights out of you, which doesn't
hurt his handling or stability in the slightest. It's tough to objectively rank
someone who plays so dirty.
================================================================================
Guide copyright 2007 by Darrell Wong (DKW 001)
All rights reserved
