Welcome to the inaugural (首次的) episode of "Learning English Comprehension with Anime", where we dive deep (深入探討) into one of the most iconic (代表性的) anime series of the late 90s and early 2000s: Initial D.

This show, beloved (深受喜愛的) for its high-speed thrills, is far more than just racing; it’s a timeless (永恆的) classic that explores profound (深刻的) themes of growth, self-improvement, first love, and pursuing passion with perfection.

Initial D originates (起源於) from Japan's street racing and car tuning culture, where drivers raced illegally (非法地) on mountain passes using modified (改裝的) cars. The manga, written by Shuichi Shigeno, ran from 1995 to 2013 and sold over 55 million copies worldwide. Professional drifter (飄移車手) Keiichi Tsuchiya even helped supervise (監督) the anime adaptation.

The story follows Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student unknowingly (不知不覺地) trained in elite (精英的) driving by delivering tofu every morning in his father’s Toyota AE86. His quiet skill is revealed (揭示) when he defeats Keisuke Takahashi of the Red Suns in a downhill race using techniques like the “gutter run.”

As Takumi evolves (演變), he joins Project D and faces fierce (激烈的) rivals like the Emperors team. But beyond the races, the series emphasizes (強調) respect, growth, and the metaphor (隱喻) of life as a winding road.

With multiple anime stages, movies, and even a live-action film, Initial D has left a lasting legacy (傳奇). For English learners, its simple dialogue and technical vocabulary make it a great tool for comprehension (理解) practice.