Tofu and the Trueno

We took a close look at how a Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 raced from the pages of Initial D and into hearts and minds the world over.

Words by James Blow
Images produced through photography and Generative AI (Fotor)

5 MIN READ

Initial D is a manga comic, turned anime series, turned animated feature films, turned live-action feature film and video game series. It stars a drifting Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 which echoes its roar through the mist-covered mountains of Gunma, Japan, drifting Waku Doki into legend.

Behind the wheel is an otherwise unassuming high school student. Before the sun rises, Takumi Fujiwara delivers tofu for his father while honing his drifting skills. Takumi becomes a street-racing legend when his prowess earns him respect and fame in the underground racing scene.

Launched in 1995, the franchise surged in popularity across Japan and continues to grip audiences worldwide. But its impact extends beyond the stories, as Initial D leaves an indelible mark on the world for the ‘Hachi-Roku’, or ‘eight-six’ in Japanese.

The driver's door inscription reads 'Fujiwara Tofu Shop'; Parenthesis term 'jikayou': denotes 'private' in Japan's tax system.

The Takumi Tax

Few cars have experienced a rise in desirability quite like the Toyota AE86. The show’s popularity is regarded as the main reason for driving up the prices, which among other names is often referred to as the ‘Takumi tax’. Today, a well-maintained and unmodified AE86 in good condition could fetch for over $50,000, doubling in value since the 1980s even after inflation. In July 2023, a second-hand 1987 Toyota Corolla AE86 Twin-Cam was sold by a driver in the UK for £50,625, which converts to $97,000 AUD.

Drifting into culture

Drifting isn’t just about speed. Drifting is a fine art focused on controlling a car on the very edge of its limits. The AE86 unwittingly inspired both seasoned drivers and newly initiated enthusiasts to explore the discipline. Abandoned and empty car parks became training grounds, and competitions like Formula Drift and the D1 Grand Prix started springing up worldwide. While Toyota performance vehicles have had their fair share of winner’s trophies, in 2002, life imitated art when racer Katsuhiro Ueo won the D1 Grand Prix in ‘The Professor’, a Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86.

“Drifting isn’t just about speed. Drifting is a fine art focused on controlling a car on the very edge of its limits.”

Tofu Mods

The Initial D series celebrates modifications for both performance and aesthetics. Armed with ideas, a new generation of drifters have set out on a creative revolution, transforming their rides with body kits and upgrades. Aftermarket manufacturers responded with an endless supply of mods that fostered entire communities dedicated to replicating Takumi’s AE86 right down to the Fujiwara Tofu Shop decal spread along the door panels. 28 years after Initial D launched, the Hachi-Roku is one of the most sought-after models among car collectors and enthusiasts. Demand has been so high for the AE86 that in 2021, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Japan announced to the delight of everyone that they’re building parts for the AE86 again to help with faithful restorations.

Real-life replicas have also been used as a fleet of taxis in Gunma Prefecture, as part of the Shibukawa City tourism campaign. The campaign also put Fujiwara and his AE86, along with other characters from Initial D on maintenance manhole covers throughout the city, immortalising the Hachi-Roku like never before.

Because why should the thrill of the AE86 be confined to cars? For Vincent Chan of California, his replica AE86 wasn’t enough and he modded himself a Fujiwara Tofu Cafe too. Clothing retailers like BAIT have set out modifying Adidas sneakers to glorify the AE86, with no-brainer* doing the same with Nike in an inspiring clash of subcultures.

Image created through photography and generative AI.

Video games

Gamers have enjoyed an immersive thrill with Initial D since the initial titular video game back in 1998 on the Game Boy. Players could choose from a list of vehicles in the series including the Corolla Levin SR and Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX. But it’s in the arcades that you’ll find most of the games, with 10 of the 13 made for an immersive experience with pedals you can pump and a wheel you can grip. The franchise has also thrust the AE86 into major titles too, including Forza, Need for Speed and Gran Turismo. Today it’s a feature in over fifty video games.

Image created through photography and generative AI.

Tiny replicas

Initial D has inspired countless lines of AE86 toys that are cherished by collectors, from meticulously detailed scale replicas to slot cars and remote-controlled cars that can actually drift. Custom Lego creators and enthusiasts are even using their own builds to petition the company to release an Initial D AE86 Lego set to the wider market. If you’re wondering how much an AE86 model car might set you back, know that the Takumi tax isn’t limited to vehicles. It affects the price of toys too, with a mint condition 1:18 scale Initial D AE86 Trueno valued at over $1,000 on eBay.

Hachi-Roku for the next generation

While Initial D has drifted Waku Doki straight into imaginations across the world, its sequel MF Ghost is now doing the same with over 4 million copies of the manga comic already in circulation. Set in the near future, MF Ghost features Fujiwara’s protege behind the wheel of a Zenki Toyota 86 GT in lightning red, racing against driverless, electrified vehicles.

For whatever happens next in the world of Initial D, the future is an exciting place for the next generation of the Hachi-Roku.