The BEST episodes of Initial D season 1

Every episode of Initial D season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Initial D season 1!

Takumi Fujiwara is the son of the owner of a local tofu shop. Every night Takumi delivers tofu on the seldom-used roads of Mt. Akina in his father's AE86 Sprinter Trueno (AE86 Corolla GT-APEX). One night, the Akagi RedSuns racing team challenges the local Akina SpeedStars team to a race. While on his way home from a practice run on Mt. Akina, Keisuke, one of the leaders of the RedSuns, encounters a mysterious Sprinter Trueno and is shocked as he is easily passed on Akina's downhill. Keisuke vows to take revenge against the mysterious AE86 of Mt. Akina...

Last Updated: 9/15/2024Network: Fuji TVStatus: Ended
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The New Downhill Legend!
star
8.63
187 votes

#1 - The New Downhill Legend!

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 12/5/1998

The thrill of street racing has finally caught up to Takumi. He still has a couple of tricks available to him, as the thrilling conclusion of Akina’s Eight-Six and White Comet of Akagi’s undefeated record is settled in one dynamic finish to remember.

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The Last Battle
star
8.39
180 votes

#2 - The Last Battle

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 11/28/1998

Nobody among the galleries has ever seen Ryosuke Takahashi drive his full potential, that is until the Eight-Six appeared. Instead of driving as the founder of the RedSuns, Ryosuke retains his title that made him famous. The White Comet has come at full force, as a new legend among the streets is about to be born between these two rivaling drivers. Will Takumi be able to defend against the analytical brother with more experience in driving than most pros?

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Into the Battle!
star
8.19
238 votes

#3 - Into the Battle!

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/9/1998

Iketani patiently waits for Bunta to appear to drive for his team against Keisuke Takahashi, but to his surprise, Takumi shows up in his place, reluctantly. This puts everybody in a state of shock, as the unexpected is about to happen.

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Akagi's White Comet!
star
8.16
184 votes

#4 - Akagi's White Comet!

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 11/14/1998

Everyone across Gunma has been waiting for this moment, when Akagi’s White Comet comes face to face with Akina’s Eight-Six. In preparation for this upcoming battle, Bunta tests out the stability of the Eight-Six.

Directors: Masami Hata
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Hot Winds and Furious Driving
star
8.15
182 votes

#5 - Hot Winds and Furious Driving

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 9/19/1998

The race has begun on Mt. Usui. With Mako driving chase, the Impact Blue team hopes to see how Takumi and his Eight-Six handle the pressure. Takumi struggles to keep up with the SilEighty, wondering if he is in over his head.

Directors: Masami Hata
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Evolving Drift
star
8.15
165 votes

#6 - Evolving Drift

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/15/1998

Takumi has no plans in running away from Shingo’s provoked challenge. When he discovers the suicidal consequences of having a gum-tape death match with the addition of Shingo’s dangerous driving, Takumi might just have added too much pressure on himself.

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Dogfight!
star
8.08
234 votes

#7 - Dogfight!

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/16/1998

Everyone in the crowd is speechless as they have just witnessed the impossible, an Eight-Six overtaking Keisuke’s FD. Ryosuke goes up to solve what’s the success behind this somewhat simple car to discover its unexpected secret. The next day Takumi goes out on a date with Natsuki to the beach, and the thrilling thoughts of racing have started to interest him.

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The Ultimate Tofu Store Drift
star
8.05
298 votes

#8 - The Ultimate Tofu Store Drift

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/18/1998

Takumi Fujiwara is an eighteen-year-old high school student who usually appears aloof and spaced out. Working with his best friend Itsuki at a gas station ran by his father's friend Yuichi, they meet Iketani and Kenji of the Akina SpeedStars. One night, Iketani brings the two up Mount Akina to experience the life of a street racer when the RedSuns from Mount Akagi, led by the Takahashi brothers, challenge the Speedstars to a race. What they all don’t know is the fastest car on Mt. Akina is a tofu delivering Eight-Six.

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Fierce Uphill Battle!
star
8.05
187 votes

#9 - Fierce Uphill Battle!

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 10/24/1998

After both losing to the newly famed Eight-Six, Keisuke Takahashi of the RedSuns and Takeshi Nakazato of the NightKids are competing against each other for position of which is the most skilled team in Gunma.

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The FR Killer
star
8.02
169 votes

#10 - The FR Killer

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/1/1998

Takumi has managed to arrange a double date with Natsuki, Itsuki, and Natsuki's friend. Iketani invites Takumi to drive his S-13, but this time he’s going to try to stay awake the whole time. Then the NightKids arrive with Shingo leading the pack, issuing the Eight-Six a challenge next Saturday night for a gum-tape death match!

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Battle to the Limit!
star
7.99
202 votes

#11 - Battle to the Limit!

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/27/1998

Nakazato faces off with Takumi, using his grip technique against Takumi's drift technique. Who will come out on top?

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The End of Summer
star
7.98
184 votes

#12 - The End of Summer

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 10/1/1998

Takumi and the gang go to the water park with Mako and Sayuki. Iketani can't get his mind off Mako, but when he learns more about her he gets depressed and wonders if he is worthy of her company.

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Super Drift!
star
7.97
187 votes

#13 - Super Drift!

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 9/26/1998

The battle down Mt. Usui concludes between Mako and Sayuki in their SilEighty versus Takumi in the Eight-Six. The girls have the teaming and home field advantage, knowing Usui inside and out. Will Takumi be able to pull through?

Directors: Jennifer Wagner
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Revenge! The Rumbling Turbo
star
7.91
244 votes

#14 - Revenge! The Rumbling Turbo

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/25/1998

Keisuke Takahashi of the RedSuns is on the hunt for the mysterious ghost driver of Akina that defeated him with a shocking drift technique. Upon hearing this rumour, Iketani goes out to locate this monstrous Eight-Six only to learn that it belongs to Takumi’s own dad.

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The 5 Consecutive Hairpins
star
7.89
175 votes

#15 - The 5 Consecutive Hairpins

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/4/1998

Nakazato has underestimated Akina’s Eight-Six, and he might just be in trouble as the five consecutive hairpins are upon him. Also to everyone’s surprise, Itsuki buys a new car.

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A Racer's Pride
star
7.88
229 votes

#16 - A Racer's Pride

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/13/1998

More history behind Takumi's and Natsuki is revealed. Nakazato of the Nightkids wants to challenge this mysterious Eight-Six, but he assumes that its driver has agreed to do so. As Takumi ponders why he should take up the challenge, various people plan on making him change his mind.

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Time's Almost Up!
star
7.83
199 votes

#17 - Time's Almost Up!

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/20/1998

The countdown to the night’s battle is closing in as everyone has gathered, but where is the Eight-Six? Itsuki will have to make an embarrassing apology to everyone if his best friend decides not to show.

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The Downhill Specialist Appears
star
7.82
211 votes

#18 - The Downhill Specialist Appears

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/2/1998

The Akina SpeedStars have taken the challenge of the RedSuns, but Iketani won’t be able to compete in the upcoming battle. By chance, he hopes he can get Bunta Fujiwara to race in his place.

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Takumi's Fury!
star
7.80
190 votes

#19 - Takumi's Fury!

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/22/1998

During the gum-tape deathmatch, Shingo’s reckless driving makes Takumi angry after a near collision with Shingo. His face and driving fills with anger as he attacks with nothing but the thought of wining in his mind, doing speeds and maneuvers that are just pure dangerous.

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First Date
star
7.72
162 votes

#20 - First Date

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/8/1998

Itsuki is in love with Natsuki’s friend, and tries to set up another date with her. Word is spreading fast of the upcoming gum-tape match, yet Takumi hasn't agreed to competing in one. Much to his disappointment, Shingo intends to make the Eight-Six come out by force.

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A New Challenger
star
7.72
202 votes

#21 - A New Challenger

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/23/1998

While Ryosuke is practicing with his FC on Akina’s course, a more menacing vehicle appears from behind. Meanwhile Takumi is asked how he earned his godly drifting skills as Iketani wishes to see a demonstration first hand.

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The Rainy Downhill
star
7.71
182 votes

#22 - The Rainy Downhill

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 11/7/1998

Another RedSuns member issues a challenge to the Eight-Six, but this time in the rain on Mount Myogi.

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Challenge from a Superstar
star
7.69
184 votes

#23 - Challenge from a Superstar

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 10/17/1998

Ryosuke has now issued a challenge to the Eight-Six's driver, but for some reason Takumi has been acting more spaced out than usual. Itsuki and Iketani are worried, believing that their friend may be suffering from lovesickness.

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Shingo Arrives!
star
7.67
172 votes

#24 - Shingo Arrives!

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 7/11/1998

To prove the potential of Itsuki’s new car, Takumi drives it against a minor racing team from Gunma. Members of the NightKids has been appearing more often, so on the night that Iketani drives out his S13, Shingo appears from behind with deadly intents.

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The Angel of Usui
star
7.65
155 votes

#25 - The Angel of Usui

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/29/1998

Rumors of the fastest on Usui Pass are a pair of females called Impact Blue. While Iketani is out on a date with his dream girl, his friends decide to watch this mountain pass in hoping to see the rare SilEighty in action.

Directors: Rei Kotaki
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