Initial D First Stage

Synopsis

Unlike his friends, Takumi Fujiwara has no interest in cars and knows little about the hidden world of car enthusiasts and street racers. As the son of a tofu shop owner, he is responsible for making daily deliveries up and down the winding roads of Mount Akina. For Takumi, conversations about cars and driving only remind him of the routine task he must complete each day. One evening, the Akagi Red Suns, a well-known street racing team, visit Akina to challenge the local mountain course. Led by the skilled Ryousuke and Keisuke Takahashi, the Red Suns aim to dominate every race track in the Kanto area and establish themselves as the fastest team around. Their plans are disrupted when one of their top drivers is outperformed by an old Toyota AE86 during a return trip from Akina. Following this event, the Takahashi brothers become wary of an anonymous driver displaying exceptional skill and a deep understanding of the local routes—the AE86 of Mount Akina.

Background

Initial D is a popular franchise spawning a sizeable number of racing games released for arcades, home consoles, handhelds, and PC. The series was also adapted into a live-action movie in 2005, co-produced by Japan's Avex Inc. and Hong Kong's Media Group. While the film deviated considerably from the original story, it was nominated for multiple awards and won many of them, at the Hong Kong Film Awards and Golden Horse Awards.