Initial D is in its 30th anniversary year with a wave of merchandise collaborations, including watches, dioramas, and apparel, while the arcade game Initial D THE ARCADE runs its 4th official national tournament with regional qualifiers ongoing. The anime series is streaming free on YouTube for a limited time.
Initial D, Shuichi Shigeno's car manga that ran in Weekly Young Magazine from 1995 to 2013, is deep into its 30th anniversary year. Merchandise output spans premium watches, with Seiko and ANGEL CLOVER both releasing models tied to the anniversary, and collectibles like the CAMSHOP Zippo lighters and an ATS-MODELS diorama of the Fujiwara Tofu Shop. A pop-up shop at Aeon Mall Takasaki in Gunma paired the AUTOart 1/18 scale AE86 with the real car. A collaboration with Chen Mapo Tofu turned the series' tofu delivery hook into a themed menu at 10 stores. Avail released apparel and accessories using the Fujiwara Tofu Shop and RedSuns logos.
The competitive scene for Initial D THE ARCADE expanded. The 4th official national tournament, Public Road Strongest Deciding Battle 4th, added a tag team event, the Double Ace Cup, and a local bracket system. Regional qualifiers run from August 2026 to January 2027 across seven locations, with finals set for March 28, 2027. The arcade title also revived its Touhou Project collaboration Part 3 as an EX reprint through October 7, 2026.
The anime series began free streaming on YouTube from August 10 to August 23, covering all five TV series from 1998 to 2014, the movie version, the 2016 theatrical film, and MF Ghost Season 1. The death of voice actor Bill Wise, who voiced Bunta Fujiwara in the Initial D: Legend trilogy, was reported. Model kit maker Aoshima added Daiki Ninomiya's EK9 Civic Type R to its 1/24 series, and the indie game Drift86, inspired by Initial D, was free on Steam for a limited time.
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Hobby Japan is taking pre-orders on Amazon for a 1/64 scale die-cast car and diorama set based on the final battle in Initial D volume 48. The set centers on Shinji Inui's AE86 2-door Trueno, with a diorama sheet depicting Takumi Fujiwara's AE86 3-door hatchback Trueno. It is priced at 2,970 yen and scheduled for release on March 31, 2027.
A limited edition Zippo featuring Bunta Fujiwara from Initial D has opened pre-orders, capped at 150 units. It is the first item in the CAMSHOP Zippo series to use Bunta as a motif. The black nickel body carries laser-engraved comic scenes and an individual serial number.
Sega Faybe will hold regional tournaments for the official national tournament "Public Road Strongest Deciding Battle 4th" for "Initial D THE ARCADE" at 7 locations nationwide, starting with the North Kanto tournament on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Qualifiers cover two divisions: the 2-car battle "KING OF DRIVER 4th" and the 4-car battle "Toge Battle Royale 4th." Winners earn the right to compete in the finals on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
The real Honda CB750F ridden by Baribari Densetsu protagonist Koma Gun is on display at an Initial D pop-up shop at Aeon Mall Takasaki through August 20. AUTOart 1/12 scale models of the CB750F and NSR500, each with a Gun Helmet, are also on display and for sale.
ATS-MODELS has released a 1/64 scale pre-painted assembly diorama of the Fujiwara Tofu Shop from Initial D. The kit recreates the storefront, signboard, roof, balcony, ladder, and surrounding wall. It includes USB Type-C powered interior lights and is priced at 11,880 yen on Amazon.co.jp, with release scheduled for January 31, 2027.
A limited-time Initial D pop-up shop runs at Aeon Mall Takasaki in Gunma from August 11 to August 20, 2026. The AUTOart 1/18 Scale Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE86) model, made for the series' 30th anniversary, is exhibited and sold, alongside an actual AE86 for comparison.
Initial D and Seiko have collaborated on a chronograph watch inspired by Takahashi Keisuke's RX-7 FD3S from the Akagi RedSuns. The watch features a yellow dial, black bezel, rotary engine rotor motif, and a RedSuns logo. It is limited to 1,995 pieces, priced at 65,780 yen, and on sale from August 3, 2026, at PREMICO's online shop.
The official YouTube channel Anime Times began free streaming of the Initial D anime series on August 10, available until August 23. The lineup includes all episodes of the five TV series from 1998 to 2014, the movie version, the 2016 theatrical film, and MF Ghost Season 1.
Sega Fave is holding an EX revival of the Touhou Project collaboration Part 3 for Initial D THE ARCADE, running from July 30 to October 7, 2026. The event brings back all previous collaboration items, adds new chat stamps and race BGM, renews play stamps, and revives the special mode and time trial events.
Sega Fave is holding the 3rd Touhou Project collaboration for Initial D THE ARCADE as an EX reprint from July 30, 2026, through October 7. The event brings back all previous collaboration items, adds new chat stamps and race BGM, and renews play stamps and time trial events.
The Initial D 30th anniversary collaboration watch series with ANGEL CLOVER has added its first automatic winding models. Reservations opened on July 30, 2026 for two watches featuring the cars of protagonist Takumi Fujiwara and his father Bunta Fujiwara. The Takumi Fujiwara TOYOTA AE86 Model Automatic costs 53,900 yen including tax, and the Bunta Fujiwara SUBARU IMPREZA WRX(GC8) type R STi Model Automatic costs 49,500 yen including tax. Both are available at watch retailers nationwide and the ANGEL CLOVER official online store. The watches use a Chinese-made PT2859-1 automatic movement, a skeleton dial, and a stainless steel case with a 45mm diameter. The AE86 model has a carbon bezel, while the GC8 model uses stainless steel. Each watch includes a purchase bonus: an original coin keyholder with the Initial D 30th anniversary logo. The series, which began in winter 2025, has released five prior models featuring cars from the manga, including Ryosuke Takahashi's MAZDA RX-7 (FC3S) and Keisuke Takahashi's MAZDA RX-7 (FD3S). Initial D, by Shuichi Shigeno, ran in Weekly Young Magazine from 1995 to 2013 and has cumulative circulation exceeding 56 million copies.
Sega Fave has opened entries for the regional preliminaries of the 4th official national tournament for Initial D THE ARCADE, the Road Strongest Decisive Battle 4th. The competition features three divisions-2-car battle, 4-car battle, and time trial-plus a new tag team event, the Double Ace Cup. Regional events run from August 2026 to January 2027 across seven locations, with the finals scheduled for March 2027. A new local bracket system expands access for the 2-car battle division.
F.B.D. Co., Ltd. announced a collaboration between Initial D, celebrating its 30th serialization anniversary, and Chen Mapo Tofu, the originator of mapo tofu. From August 1 to October 31, 10 stores in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, and Osaka will serve three limited menu items-Takumi 86 Black Mapo, Keisuke FD Yellow Mapo, and Red Suns Red Mapo-each priced at 1,680 yen. Customers ordering a menu item receive a random trading card from 10 types. Limited goods include a Mapo Tofu Mix, T-shirts, and keychains.
A limited edition Zippo lighter inspired by the manga "Initial D" has been released through the goods brand CAMSHOP.JP. Only 50 units are available at 27,500 yen each. The lighter features a black nickel finish with laser-engraved mountain pass battle scenes and a serial number.
Aoshima announced the Daiki Ninomiya EK9 Civic Type R as the next entry in its 1/24 Initial D plastic model series. The kit, based on the late-model car from the series, includes new molds for the body, hood, and headlights, plus dedicated aero parts and wheels. It is a snap-fit, glue-and-paint-free assembly. Release is set for November 2026 at 4,840 yen.
SEGA FAVE will hold the official national tournament "Public Road Strongest Deciding Battle 4th" for "Initial D THE ARCADE." The tournament includes three categories: KING OF DRIVER 4th (2-car battle), Toge Battle Royale 4th (4-car battle), and MASTER ATTACKER 4th (time trial). Regional qualifiers run from August 2026 to January 2027 at seven locations across Japan, with a final tournament in March 2027. A first tag tournament, Double Ace CUP, is scheduled for November 2026. Lifeguard sponsors the event.
Amazon's Manga Weekend Sale offers a 50% point-back on all 48 volumes of Shuichi Shigeno's car manga Initial D, limited to June 26-28, 2026. The sale brings the effective price to roughly half the 38,016 yen list price. The article also notes the AE86's appearance in Forza Horizon 6 with a water-cup Easter egg.
Avail will release a line of Initial D merchandise at its nationwide stores and online from June 6. The lineup includes a 3-piece set with a T-shirt, leisure bag, and waist cushion, plus key cases, pouches, and sunglasses. Items feature the Fujiwara Tofu Shop (Private Use) and RedSuns logos.
The drift racing game Drift86, released in 2019 by RewindApp, is free on Steam until June 4. It features over 30 maps, over 40 car models including an Initial D-style 86, and multiplayer. RewindApp is also developing a new arcade drift game, Akina, scheduled for 2026 with over 80,000 wishlists as of March.
Bill Wise, known for English dub roles including Bunta Fujiwara in the Initial D: Legend trilogy, Hayato Jin in Getter Robo: Armageddon, and Knuckles in the 1996 Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie OVA, has died at age 61. His death was reported by the Austin Chronicle on May 5, with his agency and a friend confirming the news earlier that week.