Kara Dennison
October 3, 2023 
MF GHOST, the sequel to Shuichi Shigeno’s hit street racing series Initial D, has already left the fall season starting line. With 19-year-old ace driver Kanata Rivington behind the wheel, we’re preparing for a whole new series of intense racing action. But where exactly do these two series connect? Manga readers have already witnessed the new story’s pedigree. But even in the first episode of the anime, you can catch some links between the two series!
Whether you’re new to Shigeno’s high-octane world or a returning Initial D fan, keep an eye out for these links to the original series:
The 86
Along with Eurobeat-scored racing, Takumi Fujiwara’s legendary 86 has escaped Initial D containment and made its way into common knowledge. For new viewers who only know MF GHOST, this is a reference to the Toyota AE86, a specific make of the Toyota Sprinter Trueno. Even before the anime boosted the 86’s popularity, it was a light and affordable car that lent itself well to drifting.
New protagonist Kanata takes to the track in a Toyota GT86. Launched in 2012, this car has become beloved by driving enthusiasts in its own right. That’s reason enough for it to feature in the Initial D sequel. But the make and number are also a lovely nod to the legendary car that came before.
Ryosuke Persists
While Takumi may have been the star of Initial D, Ryosuke Takahashi was the mastermind. This Akagi RedSuns (and later Project D) founder has a talent for racing, but also a calculating mind. He can predict the outcomes of street races with a startling degree of accuracy, and knows the value of mental power combined with horsepower. So of course, of course he’s gonna show up in MF GHOST.
So far, we’ve only heard about “Ryo” in phone calls. But it’s a sign that he’s still operating in the background of proceedings. One trailer even shows a brief glimpse of him from behind, scrubbed up to perform surgery.
A Familiar Voice
The Ghost of Akina himself has a presence in MF GHOST—he is, of course, Kanata’s mentor. He never shows up in the actual body of the story, leaving the racing glory to his young protégé. But that doesn’t mean he’s not present in the anime!
Listen closely, and you’ll hear a familiar voice narrating the series. That’s Shinichiro Miki, an accomplished voice actor with hundreds of roles under his belt. And one of those roles just happens to be Takumi in the anime adaptation of Initial D!
MF GHOST is now streaming as part of the fall anime season. If you’re feeling extra motivated, you can also start catching up on Initial D!
