Initial D

Originally, Initial D was a manga written by Japanese author Shuichi Shigeno that has been featured in Kodansha’s Young Magazine since 1995. Since Initial D’s inception, Initial D has been adapted into a long-running anime series, live action film, and video games.

The Initial D anime and manga focus on the world of Japanese underground mountain-pass street racing known as touge racing where drifting is key to maintaining speed and winning races. In order to stay true to street racing and drifting culture, Initial D producers hired street racing and drifting legend Keiichi “Drift King” Tsuchiya to their editorial staff.

Initial D’s story takes place in the Japanese prefecture of Gunma and focuses on main character Takumi “Tak” Fujiwara and his Toyota Corolla AE86. Takumi is an unassuming teenager who has a job as a tofu delivery boy. His ex-racer dad has been sending Takumi on tofu deliveries up the winding Mt. Akina road while teaching him the skills needed for driving touge – drifting techniques.

When local street racer, and former Bosozuku gang leader, Keisuke Takahashi of the infamous Red Suns racing team witnesses Takumi’s expert drift skill, he challenges Takumi to a race. With incredible drifting technique and a drift ready AE86, Takumi beats Keisuke’s Mazda FD3S RX-7 and unwittingly enters into the life of underground street racing. Word quickly spreads of Takumi’s win and then street racers begin seeking him out to battle his AE86 on the touge.

The Initial D franchise is a must see for any street racing and drifting fan.

List of Initial D Releases

Manga:

• Initial D Manga Japanese Release - 35 Volumes (1995 - new volume released every 5 months).
• Initial D Manga Tokyopop Release - 24 Volumes (2002 - new volume released every 3 months).

Anime:

• Initial D First Stage - 26 episodes (1998)
• Initial D Second Stage - 13 episodes (1999)
• Initial D Extra Stage OAV - 2 episodes side-story focusing on Impact Blue (2000)
• Initial D Third Stage - 2 hour movie (2001)
• Initial D Battle Stage - 50 minute movie (2002)
• Initial D Fourth Stage - 24 episodes (2004-2006)
• Initial D Battle Stage 2

Initial D Video Games:

• Initial D Arcade Stage Version 1 (Arcade)
• Initial D Arcade Stage Version 2 (Arcade)
• Initial D Arcade Stage Version 3 (Arcade)
• Initial D Arcade Stage Version 4 (Arcade)
• Initial D (Sega Saturn)
• Initial D (Sony PS1)
• Initial D Special Stage (Sony PS2)
• Initial D Mountain Vengeance (PC)
• Initial D Street Stage (Sony PSP)
• Initial D Gaiden (Nintendo Game Boy)
• Initial D Another Stage (Nintendo GBA)
• Initial D Collectible Card Game (Collectible Card Game)