Initial D is an anime based on a manga serialized in Weekly Young Magazine from 1995 to 2013 about young people known as "hashiriya" (racers) who tackle mountain passes in their cars. We've compiled a list of the characters and their favorite cars. As the anime ran for such a long time, a wide variety of vehicles appeared.
Fujiwara Tofu Shop
The main character of this work is a Hachiroku bearing the Fujiwara Tofu Shop sign. It consists of just the two of them, father Bunta and son Takumi.
Takumi Fujiwara
The protagonist Takumi's car is a Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX 3-Door (1993 early model) with a high-tech two-tone white and black body color. It's commonly known as the "Panda Trueno" and has the license plate number "Gunma 55 O13-954."
Fujiwara Bunta
At the beginning of the anime, Bunta's father's beloved car was Takumi's Hachiroku. However, after repairing the engine blowout during Takumi's battle, he purchased a used Subaru GC8 Impreza WRX STi Version V in search of a more practical and comfortable car. The body color is blue, and the license plate number is "Gunma 52 ga 13-600."
AKINA SPEED STARS
This is a racing team founded by Ikeya. It's more of a club-like gathering of people who love cars, rather than a team dedicated to perfecting their driving skills.
Koichiro Ikeya
Ikeya is a senior colleague at the gas station where Takumi works part-time, and the person who founded the Speedsters. His car is a Nissan S13 Silvia K's, with a two-tone lime green body and license plate number "Gunma 58 He 51-745."
Itsuki Takeuchi
Itsuki, Takumi's high school classmate and best friend, is a huge fan of the Toyota Hachiroku. He declared that he would buy one, but accidentally purchased an AE85 Corolla Levin SR instead. The body color is white, and the license plate number is "Gunma 56 He 11-009."
Kenji
He is a childhood friend and best friend of Iketani, who founded the Speedsters. He helps out at his family's dry cleaning shop and frequents gas stations in his spare time. Takumi and Itsuki also call him "Kenji-senpai." His car is a Nissan PRS13 180SX TYPE II, warm white, with the license plate number "Gunma 55 Shi 11-305."
Akagi Red Suns (Red Suns) / PROJECT.D
For the Kanto Fastest Project, Ryosuke Takahashi gathered together the best members of Akagi to form the team known as "Akagi Red Suns." Later, the team would become the "RROJECT.D" team, a limited-time, one-year project based on the Red Suns, with the goal of completely conquering the Kanto region.
Ryosuke Takahashi
Once known as "Akagi's White Comet," Ryosuke Takahashi founded the Red Suns. He is the No. 1 of the Red Suns and the older brother of the "Rotary Takahashi Brothers." He's a theoretical driver, and his car is a Crystal White Mazda FC3S Savanna RX-7∞ with the license plate number "Gunma 58 Yo 13-137."
Keisuke Takahashi
He's the second man on the Red Suns team, and the younger brother of the "Takahashi brothers of the Rotary Club." In contrast to his older brother, his driving style is more instinctual. His car is a Mazda FD3S RX-7 Type R in Competition Yellow Mica, with the license plate number "Gunma 37 O63-887."
Kenta Nakamura
He is Keisuke's favorite student and admires the Takahashi brothers. His car is a Nissan S14 Silvia Q's, orange, with the license plate number Gunma 72 Shi 35-918.
Night Kids' Skills
This group of street racers is led by Takeshi Nakazato, but Nakazato's bad reputation has led to an intensifying factional dispute between him and Shingo Shoji.
Takeshi Nakazato
He is the leader of the Night Kids. He used to be a drifter, but now specializes in grip driving. He used to drive an S13, but his current car is a Nissan BNR32 Skyline GT-R V-spec II in Black Pearl Metallic with the license plate number "Gunma 33 ga26-037."
Shingo Shoji
He is the one who challenged Takumi to the "Duct Tape Death Match," and he confidently claims to be the fastest downhill racer in the Gunma area. His car is a Honda EG6 Civic SiR-II, Milano Red, with the license plate number "Gunma 56 yo 46-037."
Emperor
This is a one-make Lancer Evolution team, and leader Kyoichi Sudo plans to invade Gunma to get revenge on Ryosuke Takahashi.
Kyoichi Sudo
He is the team leader of the Emperor, and is such a thoroughly rational person that Ryosuke describes him as "someone who chooses ridiculously rational strategies to win." As a one-make Lancer Evolution team, his car is a CE9A Lancer Evolution III GSR in Pyrenees Black Pearl, license plate number Gunma 58 Shi 30-395.
Seiji Iwaki
He's Emperor's second and also drives a Lancer Evolution. He has a fierce temperament and isn't particularly quick-witted, but he excels in drifting techniques, even in 4WD vehicles, which are considered difficult to achieve. His car is a CN9A Lancer Evolution IV RS in Scotia White, license plate number Tochigi 78 He 46-637.
Wataru Akiyama
A Saitama Prefecture-based street racer, Wataru Akiyama boasts the skills to compete on equal terms with Keisuke Takahashi. His car is an AE86 Corolla Levin GT-APEX 3-Door, in the same high-tech two-tone black and white body color as Takumi, with the license plate number "Koshigaya 56 Yo 73-212."
Kai Kogashiwa
A downhill specialist who suddenly appeared on the streets. He received special training in karting from a young age from his father, Ken, who was once Bunta's greatest rival. He uses his left foot to brake. He later appears as a downhiller for the "Racing Team Katagiri SV." His car is a SW20 MR2 G-Limited Type III, with a strong blue metallic body color and the license plate number "Tochigi 58 ka 37-597." The car he drives with Racing Team Katagiri is a ZZW30 MR-S S EDITION, with a silver metallic body color and the license plate number "Shonan 500 to 56-824."
Seven Star Leaf (SSR)
This team is based on Nikko City's Nikko Momiji Line. While not featured in the main story, they do appear in the Battle Stage.
Toru Suetsugu
This is the Seven Star Leaf's "Downhiller" style. This driving style, which utilizes inertial drifting to take every possible corner, is called the "Kamikaze Downhiller" style. His car is a NA6CE Eunos Roadster in Classic Red, license plate number "Tochigi 55 o 86-596."
Atsuo Kawai
Another Seven Star Leaf athlete, he skillfully controls his 400 PS Skyline, driving with the same grip on mountain passes as on a circuit. His car is an ER34 Skyline 2-Door Coupe 25GT-TURBO in Dark Blue Pearl, license plate number "Tochigi 34 o 22-936."
Toudou Juku
This driving technique training school was opened by tuning shop owner Toudou to attract young car enthusiasts. It bucks the drifting trend and is a group of street racers who pursue speed alone. It has even produced professional drivers. Emperor's Sudo is also a Toudou Juku alumnus.
Ninomiya Daiki
He is one of the most talented students currently attending Toudou Juku. He is a talented athlete who ranks among the top three of all the students who have attended the school. He uses unique braking techniques that allow him to brake quickly. His car is an EK9 Civic Type R, sunlight yellow, with the license plate number "Tochigi 50 to 56-838."
Purple Shadow
This team is based on the Tsukuba Purple Line in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. They are rivals with Todo Juku, competing in gymkhana and circuit racing.
Toshiya Jojima
He is known as the "God Arm," the god of mountain passes, and is a doctor by profession. He uses one-handed steering, operating the steering wheel with only his right hand, and has maintained this style for over 20 years. A perfectionist, he knows everything is meticulously planned. His car is an AP1 S2000, painted long peach blue-purple, with the license plate number "Tsuchiura 35 O 71-109."
Kouzo Hoshino
Due to his miraculous throttle control, he is nicknamed "Godfoot," the god of mountain passes. He constantly talks during battles, a method he developed to maintain his composure and objectivity. His car is a BNR34 Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nur, painted Millennium Jade Metallic, with the license plate number "Tsuchiura 39 Ki 38-374."
Team 246 (Two Four Six)
This is the first of the four lines of defense created to thwart Project D's progress.
Their base is located at Ybitsu Pass in Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Satoshi Omiya
Team 246's leader and former professional racer. They are known as the "craziest downhill racers." His car is an NB8C Roadster RS in Evolution Orange Mica, license plate number "Sagami 501 ku 37-125."
Racing Team Katagiri Street Version
This is the "second line of defense" created to halt the progress of Project D. His base is Nagao Pass, which straddles Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Hideo Minagawa
He's a professional driver with a knack for tire management, and he's in charge of hill climbs. His car is a JZA80 Supra RZ, body color Super White II, with the license plate number Shonan 35 ki81-973.
Team Spiral
This is the "third line of defense" created to thwart Project D's progress. They also serve as "mountain vigilantes."
Ryuji Ikeda
He's in charge of hill climbing for Team Spiral, which operates on a unique theory called Zero Theory, or the state of nothingness. His car is a "Z33 Fairlady Z Version S" in burnt red, license plate number "Shonan 301 Mi 69-556."
Hiroya Okuyama
He's in charge of downhill racing for Team Spiral and is commonly known as Spiral's "01." His car is an "S15 Silvia Spec-R" in brilliant blue titanium pearl metallic, license plate number "Shonan 503 Ho 16-801."
Sidewinder
One of the three major factions in Kanagawa Prefecture, they are the "last line of defense" created to thwart Project D's progress. They devised and command the "four-stage defense line."
Go Hojo
Together with his older brother, Rin Hojo, they are known as the "Fuji Hojo Brothers" and are well-known at track days at Fuji Speedway. He is the team's chief driver and is in charge of climbing. Like Keisuke, he is a gifted driver who relies on his keen sense of intuition and intense concentration to win. His car is the "NA1 NSX," painted Formula Red, with the license plate number "Yokohama 39 Ma 40-298."
Shinji Inui
He is the driver of the downhill race in Project D's final race. He shares many similarities with Takumi, including being a single parent, racing the same course every day without a license, driving a Hachiroku, and appearing to be a quiet person. He is also fearless and daring, as evidenced by his lack of hesitation in crashing into other cars. His car is an AE86 Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX 2-Door, with a high-tech two-tone body color and license plate number "Sagami 57 I12-186".
Shinigami GT-R
Hojo Rin
Ryosuke's senior at medical school and the older brother of Go Hojo of Sidewinder. He was in a love triangle with his fiancée Kaori and Ryosuke, and after Kaori committed suicide, he became desperate and turned into the "Grim Reaper" by crashing his beloved R32 into other cars in Hakone. His driving skills are so impressive that some people ask, "Why would he turn his precious car into a lethal weapon when he has such skill?" His car is a dark silver BNR32 Skyline GT-R with the license plate number "Gunma 33 Nu 37-564."
A Parade of Sports Cars
What did you think? I think one of the charms of Initial D is the wide variety of cars, even within the same model, with different grades and body colors. I hope you enjoy the subtle differences between each vehicle.
