Hi! I've been interested in a relatively serious racing RP for a while. On top of that I'm particularly interested in Japanese cars as a hobby, so I'm able to put 2 and 2 together here.
This RP will primarily involve street racers down the touge, or mountain passes, of Japan, specifically those on Mt. Hakone, in Kanagawa. Set in spring 1998, I wanted to recapture the nature and aesthetic that I enjoyed reading and watching the first season of Initial D, a similarly set manga/anime series. However, of course, I would ask that we keep direct references or similarities to the show and its creations at a minimum.
To be honest, I'd expect at least some understanding of cars and/or racing techniques to really get into the races. While a degree of technicality and reason is expected, you're more than welcome to be creative and original so long as it's balanced with realism. That does mean, however, that technical info comes into play a lot, such as vehicle specs, tire management, or racing styles. Feel free to ask about anything, I'll do my best to explain or find out myself.
If you have any questions or comments, I'd be glad to field them in this topic. Aside from that, thanks! SETTING
March 1998: the beginning of spring. Every spring in Japan, the ice melts, and the cherry blossoms bloom. To a small niche of car enthusiasts, who run dangerous night races down the mountain passes, it signals the beginning of racing season. These tōge racers, infamous for their suicidal speeds down poorly-lit, windy roads, are rife across Kanto, but the hotspot location is Mt. Hakone. Located in western Kanagawa, the beautiful, scenic mountain means much more to the street racers of Kanto, who come in from as far away as Tochigi to race and spectate. In fact, this is because as opposed to the typical singular route most mountains take up, Hakone has four iconic passes.
In the early 1990s, Hakone was dominated by the legendary Z Brothers; as the name may infer, two brothers who drove Nissan Z-cars. The elder brother, Ryuki Fujimoto, ran with a light, agile '82 280Z, and was an analytical expert who specifically mastered the Turnpike downhill. Noriyuki, his junior by 8 years, went with a more 'modern' Z32, and pushed his skills to the limit, tuning it up and dominating the Nanamagari hillclimb. However, after Ryuki retired from racing and Noriyuki moved away in the mid-90s, the street racing scene has seen a power vacuum of sorts. Several small teams have sprouted up, attempting (and failing) to shatter the Z Brothers' times, but none yet have been able to even mimic the success of a truly strong street racing team. Oh, that's probably where you come in. Or not, that's fine too.
HAKONE
Nagao: The de facto 'introductory course' to Hakone, Nagao spans just through Hakone and Gotemba, in the Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures. With a mixture of blind hairpins, decreasing radius corners and lidless gutters, this pass tests a driver's skill to the fullest, and is traditionally the first one run by street racers entering Hakone.
Nanamagari: Second on the list is Nanamagari, facing east to Lake Ashi. The iconic 12 consecutive hairpins in the middle section catches most drivers off guard after they have gotten used to the high speed sections both on the descent and the hillclimb. A narrow and dangerous course, this is where drivers and tuners test their skills and balance.
Tsubaki Line: This is the southernmost course, and the longest, in terms of time to navigate. Its first section on the downhill starts off as a very fast course, before abruptly switching to medium-speed hairpins and bends, both of which take most drivers off-guard. The corner most new drivers take notes at is the split road at Section 3. Here, a racer can regain or lose their position, by utilizing either a surprise divebomb into the inside, or by mistakenly overspeeding into the outside.
Turnpike: Perhaps the most treacherous (and most infamous) of Hakone's passes is the Toyo Tires Turnpike. A toll road located in between Nanamagari and Tsubaki Line, this extremely high speed course resembles the Shuto C1 expressway more than an actual mountain pass. Without a hairpin corner in sight, this course matches powerful, agile cars the best. When racing, no driver in their right mind pushes at 100%- that is, no one who survives.
OTHER PASSES Although once popular in the late 1980s and early 90s, the passes of northern Kanto, such as Haruna, Akagi, and Myogi have become subject to occasional police presence installed (due in part to popular media), making them impractical for street racing. Some racers still frequent the more remote routes such as Sadamine or Tsuchisaka in Saitama Prefecture, although their numbers pale in comparison to the Kanagawa/Tokyo racing scene.
HIGHWAY/CIRCUITS Of course, not all of the street races take place on the mountains. Those seeking high speed get their kicks in Tokyo, in two main locations. In the heart of Tokyo lies the Shuto C1 Expressway, a highway loop that surrounds downtown Tokyo. One may enjoy the unique scenery that surrounds the downtown area, such as office buildings in Ginza, long tunnels, and the Tokyo Tower. Experienced racers can take the high speed up a notch, although this requires sharper cornering. Even faster paced is the Wangan, or Coastal Bayshore Route, which stretches out of the cities, connecting Yokohama to Tokyo. The continuously straight and wide road is stretched, making the benchmark of 300km/h easy to obtain given proper conditions. Alternatively, racers also opt to take the legal option on Fuji Speedway, Yatabe Test Track, or Tsukuba Circuit.
Given the setting, almost every hashiriya (street racer) in Kanto makes do with a domestic Japanese sports car from the 1980s or 1990s. However, upon request with reasonable basis, it could be possible to drive an alternative vehicle. Naturally, this will mainly focus on 80s/90s JDM cars. For a chart referencing stats/specs, I made one here.
Honda
Civic: Affordable, reliable, and nimble, the Civic has been the staple of many street racers, most notably the kanjōzoku of Osaka. The go-to models are the EF9 or EG6 Civic SiR, although the EK9 Type R is a more modern take on the Civic.
CR-X: Nearly identical to the EF9, the first generation CR-X has similar ratings. However, in the mid 1990s, the branches split with the CR-X Del Sol, which used the Civic's B16A engine.
Integra: Ideal for an FF uphiller, the Integra is longer and stronger than the Civic, with a more powerful B18C engine. Most street racers driving the Integra do so with the Type R model, which is ideal for tackling the hillclimb.
NSX: The crown jewel of Honda, the mid-rear engine NSX was designed by the late F1 legend Ayrton Senna himself. Taking inspiration from Ferraris and fighter jets, this is a realistic no-no. Don't pick this.
Mazda
Roadster: The MX-5 Roadster, known in America as the Miata, could be considered the rear-wheel-drive equivalent to the Civic EG6: well-priced, agile around corners, and popular. Despite its minimal performance statistics, like the Civic, the Roadster is best when tuned and driven well.
RX-7: Extremely unique due to its rotary engine, the RX-7 is a car hard to compare. Its unique engine makes the most out of its size, pushing up to 276 horsepower stock from only 1.3 liters. However, this is a compromise for its poor mileage and reliability. The two most common RX-7 models are the FC3S, and the newer FD3S.
Mitsubishi
FTO: The Mitsubishi FTO is the dark horse of its kind: outshadowed by the Civic and Lancer Evolution. However, it is able to rival the Integra R in specs: a 200hp V6 engine and 1200kg.
Lancer Evolution: The hallmark of Mitsubishi is its 4WD rally car, the Lan Evo for short. With a powerful 4-engine and 4-wheel-drive, the Evo is a powerful menace that comes in three common models: the Evo III, the Evo IV, and the brand-new Evo V.
Starion: A forgotten relic, the Starion is a turbo rear-wheel-drive hatchback from the 1980s, similar to the Silvia S12 or AE86. However, it never took off, due to its late arrival to motorsports.
Nissan
Fairlady Z: Japan's edition of the V6 touring car, the Fairlady Z's newest iteration is the twin-turbo 3-liter Z32. Its heavy weight and loud, large engine naturally make it ideal for a power course such as the Turnpike or Shuto Expressway.
S-Chassis: The S-Chassis branches into three contemporary types: the first edition of 180SX and Silvia S13, and the second iteration, the Silvia S14 (with a facelift). All such vehicles are admirable RWD drift cars, using the 200hp SR20DET engine. However, many forget the 1980s S12, which had popups and a turbo CA18DET.
Skyline: Powerful, intimidating, and heavy, the Skyline's GT-R brand can strike fear with just its name. However, due to its luxuriously high price range, many start out by tuning a lower-level RWD Skyline, such as the R32 GTS-T.
Subaru
Impreza: The Subaru Impreza has had similar success in rallying to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, its 22B dominating the scene with its unique boxer engine. Although the 22B is more or less a unicorn car, the GC8 Impreza WRX is a street-legal machine on par with the Lan Evo.
Toyota
MR2: With the engine behind the driver, the MR2 is a car that shares its traits with few affordable others. Street racers tend towards either the older AW11 (112hp N/A, 145hp supercharged) or the newer SW20 (163hp N/A, 218hp turbo).
Sprinter Trueno: Immortalized by Keiichi Tsuchiya and Takumi Fujiwara, the Trueno AE86 (and its Levin counterpart) are RWD tōge icons. However, despite the mythical status, the AE86 is actually quite minimalistic- sporting about 1000 kg and 112 hp through a 4AGE engine. Fans of Initial D know not to buy a Levin/Trueno SR, which is actually the less powerful AE85 model.
Supra: Another powerful heavyweight, the Supra JZA80 boasts a twin-turbo 2JZ engine, pushing 276 horses. Its older sibling, the JZA70, uses a single-turbo 1JZ, with similar power ranges.
ADVICE Firstly, note that this is a basic list, and your car selection may exceed this list if reasonable and period-accurate. As well, when checking price ranges and models, I would recommend goo-net-exchange.com as a good reference site. Do note that the RP is set in 1998, and cars would be at MSRP value if purchased recently IC.
Once dubbed the unofficial "King of Hakone", Ryuki Fujimoto started out in the early 1980s, when street racing was far less mainstream. Starting out with a then brand-new 280Z, Ryuki perfected his technique on Hakone's four passes. This gave him an edge, allowing him to analyze and adapt to new scenarios quickly. Over time, he developed a knack for reading the situation, and using his resources smartly to his advantage. Combined with his tuner friends at the Speed King shop, Hakone's Z soon achieved seemingly miraculous times on the downhills, especially the Turnpike, where circuit techniques were orthodox. His secret was weight- rather than a heavy, sluggish powerhouse, Ryuki's Z was light and power-efficient, allowing it to conserve corner speed.
After managing to 'conquer' the Kanagawa area, he made quick rivalries in Gunma. Although able to butt heads with other racers on Akagi and Haruna, he was easily bested by making the foolish mistake of challenging "Usui's Hachi-Roku". With a certain Tsuchiya behind the wheel, Ryuki stood little chance, and from then on learned an important lesson: to think with your head.
Once his brother Noriyuki was old enough to drive (that is, old enough to legally drive his own car), Ryuki was content with heading a two-man team. Thus, the Z Brothers of Hakone were spawned, Ryuki serving as the leader and mentor to his younger sibling. For years, this remained the status quo, until Noriyuki slowly begun to surpass his elder. Noticing this, Ryuki realized his decline was imminent, and accepted this fate, ultimately 'retiring' from the street racing scene in 1994.
One of the few Japanese MLB players, it would be hard to believe that Athletics relief pitcher Noriyuki Fujimoto was an accomplished street racer just 5 years ago. These days, the landed Californian lives in the "Japantown" area of San Francisco, with his wife and daughter. Jump back to 1990, and you would see an 18-year-old Noriyuki, fresh out of high school and ready to run his brand-new Z32 down the Turnpike.
Noriyuki grew up looking up to his aniki, and became a car fanatic just like him. Admiring Ryuki's 280Z, Noriyuki wished for something of his own once he turned 18. However, their personalities heavily differed. While Ryuki was the analytical, laid-back, 'yin' type, Noriyuki was very much a 'yang': energetic, outgoing, and fearless. Wanting something strong and fresh, but at the same time reflective of his brother, he picked the brand-new 1990 Z32.
Before legally owning his own Z, Noriyuki made a couple Turnpike runs on his brother's 280Z. Assuming that its 'slow' speed was the fault of the light, underpowered car, he had minimal expectations of it when racing his Z32. Naturally, he was sorely disappointed and given an easy beating from Ryuki, who was barely pushing it. He may have been fearless, but at this stage, he would also prove to be clueless.
Over time under his sibling's mentorship, Noriyuki developed his skills, improving his car gradually to adjust for his abilities and shortcomings. Finding an affinity for Nanamagari's hillclimb, he had his fair share of victories and losses, but through perseverance and determination to improve he grew to become the "rising star" of Hakone. But his time had come to 'graduate', and once he had finished university and Ryuki had retired, Noriyuki decided to pursue his baseball career and sign with the Yokohama BayStars. After the NPB exodus to the MLB, Noriyuki followed suit, moving to Oakland.
The owner of Speed King, Matsuyama-san is a veteran touge-spec tuner, having been in the business for the better part of 20 years. In his late 30s (although no one can truly verify this), Matsuyama is seen at Speed King on most days, tinkering with either his Roadster or R32. However, more rumors have it that the Roadster and R32 still take to Hakone's roads at night.
A Gunma local, Hayato sometimes noticed loud, fast cars making their way up Mt. Akagi as a teenager. Once he was finally old enough to buy a second-hand KP61 Starlet, he begun to race on Akagi, taking a job as a mechanic at the local tuner shop. Through this, he learned about his car and pass in and out, becoming a respected name on Akagi.
When the 'King of Hakone' came to challenge Gunma, Hayato stood up quickly to battle for Akagi. Facing off against the 280Z on Akagi's downhill, the two racers set a record time, with the Starlet overtaken on the last hairpin. Crushed, Hayato demanded a 'true' rematch as soon as possible, keeping in contact with the man he now knew as Ryuki Fujimoto.
Over the next few years, Ryuki and Hayato exchanged talk, time attacks, and became good friends. Finally, upon hearing of Ryuki's brother winning a couple of races, Hayato finally decided that he wanted a piece of the Hakone scene. Saving up, and moving shop to Hakone, Hayato founded Speed King, where Ryuki claimed he would get prolific business from the local racers. Serving as a 'foil' to Ryuki's mentorship, Hayato made progress on two Hakone projects to test the waters. Fine-tuning a Roadster for the tight downhill corners and upgrading a GTS25T Skyline for the hillclimb, Hayato was easily acclimated to Hakone, even teaching Noriyuki a couple lessons on the way. Once the Z Brothers left, Hayato saw a bittersweet boost in business, as formerly 'small-time' racers rushed to him, in hopes of becoming the next Ryuki or Noriyuki. Hayato quietly complied, knowing no one would reach that mark for a while.
Toyo Tires View Lounge: As the name suggests, the View Lounge is a viewing center and parking lot situated directly preceding the Turnpike. With a great view of the area and a large lot near the Turnpike, the View Lounge is notorious for being the gathering place for street racer meets at Hakone, regardless of the home pass.
Speed King Tuning Shop: Located in Yugawara-machi, just south of Tsubaki Line, Speed King Tuning Shop (Speed King, or even SK for short) is where an allegedly retired street racer settled down to tune up other touge-spec cars in the Hakone area. The convenient location and mechanic skill makes Speed King the ideal shop for Hakone racers. Owned by a man in his 30s named Kenjiro Matsuyama, Speed King's notable projects are a downhill-tuned Roadster and a heavily modified GTS-T R32.
Kotolier Café: A café and light dining establishment near Lake Ashi, Kotolier is a common date location, as well as absolutely heterosexual meetings between close friends that so happen to be male.
CHARACTER/CAR SHEETS
Age: __ (dd/mm/yyyy [keep in mind RP is set in March 1998]) Height: Weight: Gender: [M/F] Description: [describe physical traits] Personality: Driving Style: Likes: Dislikes: Backstory: Theme: [eurobeat or other] Home Course: [should be mountain pass, if character is unskilled an N/A will suffice]
