Initial-D

Emerging in the late 1990s and early 2000s, leaving a profound influence on car culture, especially in the realm of Japanese sports cars is the popular anime “Initial-D”. The anime follows the story of a young street racer named Takumi Fujiwara, who becomes a skilled driver in his father’s delivery car, an aging Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno. The show’s thrilling portrayal of street racing, drifting, and intense driving battles struck a chord with audiences worldwide, elevating the AE86 to an iconic status among automotive enthusiasts. The anime’s depiction of the AE86’s capabilities, such as its nimble handling and drifting prowess, not only reinforced the car’s reputation but also popularized drifting as a motorsport discipline. “Initial D” played a crucial role in sparking a global fascination with Japanese car culture and inspired countless enthusiasts to seek out and modify their own AE86s and other JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles. Even to this day, the anime’s impact on car culture remains significant, and the AE86 continues to be revered as a symbol of the spirited and thrilling world of Japanese sports cars.