TL;DR
Watch Initial D in release order — First Stage (1998) through Final Stage (2014) — while icons like Takumi’s AE86 and the Takahashi brothers’ RX-7s define every touge battle. For collecting the manga, model cars, Blu-rays, and Eurobeat CDs, importing from Japan through a proxy like OneMall is the cheapest route.
- Watch order — follow release order, First Stage to Final Stage; the New Initial D Movie trilogy is a condensed retelling.
- Iconic cars — AE86 Trueno, RX-7 FD/FC, Lancer Evolution, Skyline GT-R, Silvia, Impreza WRX STI, Civic/Integra.
- Best merch — 48 manga volumes, Tomica die-casts, resin models, Japanese Blu-ray box sets, apparel, and Super Eurobeat CDs.
- Cheapest way to buy — order via OneMall (service fees as low as ¥200, 90 days free storage) to pay real Japanese prices.
Few anime have burned rubber into pop culture quite like Initial D. Born from Shuichi Shigeno’s manga in the pages of Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine[1], it turned a tofu-delivery kid, a battered AE86, and a mountain pass called Akina into a global obsession. Whether you’re here to figure out the correct Initial D watch order, memorize the cars, blast some Eurobeat, or finally buy Initial D merch from Japan, this guide covers the fan culture and the practical import side in one drift-perfect line.
Initial D Watch Order: Where to Start
Newcomers always ask the same thing: what is the right Initial D watch order? The good news is that the anime is largely chronological, so you can follow it in release order without getting lost. Here is the clean sequence:
- First Stage (1998) — Takumi Fujiwara and the legendary AE86 are introduced on Mt. Akina.
- Second Stage (1999) — The Akagi RedSuns arc and the rotary RX-7 rivalries.
- Extra Stage (2000) — A short OVA side-story following the Impact Blue duo.
- Third Stage (2001) — A feature-length film continuing Takumi’s story.
- Fourth Stage (2004–2006) — Project D forms and takes on rival teams across Japan.
- Extra Stage 2 (2008), then Fifth Stage (2012) and Final Stage (2014).
If you prefer a condensed retelling, the New Initial D the Movie trilogy (Legend 1–3, 2014–2016) reboots the early arcs. Purists, though, insist the original staged series is the only way to feel the full slow-burn of Takumi’s evolution.
The Cars in Initial D: Every Icon on the Pass
Ask any fan and the machines matter as much as the drivers. Here is a practical Initial D cars list covering the heavy hitters — a near-complete rundown of the all Initial D cars that define each battle:

- Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 — Takumi’s white-and-black “hachi-roku,” the soul of the series.
- Mazda RX-7 FD3S & FC3S — Keisuke and Ryosuke Takahashi’s rotary rockets.
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (III–IX) — Bunta’s later ride and Kyoichi Sudo’s weapon of choice.
- Nissan Silvia S13/S14 & Skyline GT-R R32 — staples of the touge (mountain-pass) scene.
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI — Bunta Fujiwara’s all-wheel-drive monster in later stages.
- Honda Civic EG6 & Integra DC2 — the front-drive challengers.
| Car | Key Driver(s) / Character | What It Represents in the Series |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 | Takumi Fujiwara | The white-and-black “hachi-roku,” the soul of the series |
| Mazda RX-7 FD3S & FC3S | Keisuke & Ryosuke Takahashi | Rotary rockets of the Akagi RedSuns rivalry |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (III–IX) | Bunta (later) & Kyoichi Sudo | Rally-bred weapon of choice on the pass |
| Nissan Silvia S13/S14 & Skyline GT-R R32 | Assorted touge racers | Staples of the mountain-pass (touge) scene |
| Subaru Impreza WRX STI | Bunta Fujiwara | All-wheel-drive monster in the later stages |
| Honda Civic EG6 & Integra DC2 | Rival teams | The front-drive challengers |
The AE86 in particular sent used-car values soaring; clean examples still trade briskly on Japanese platforms like Yahoo Auctions Japan[2]. You obviously can’t ship a whole Trueno home in a parcel, but you can collect scale versions of every one of these — which brings us to the good stuff.
Eurobeat, Manga, and the Merch That Fuels the Fandom
You can’t talk Initial D without the soundtrack. The relentless Super Eurobeat tracks — “Deja Vu,” “Running in the 90s,” “Gas Gas Gas” — were compiled by Avex and remain the definitive sound of a downhill run[3]. That music, plus the manga and cars, powers a massive collectibles market.
Here’s what serious fans hunt for, and where the deals live:
- Manga volumes — All 48 tankobon from Kodansha, including rare early printings.
- Blu-ray & DVD box sets — Japanese releases of every Stage, often with better remasters than overseas editions.
- Figures & model cars — Tomica die-casts from Takara Tomy[4], plus 1/18 and 1/24 resin AE86 and RX-7 replicas.
- Apparel & itasha stickers — Fujiwara Tofu Shop tees, jackets, and decal kits to build your own tribute car.
- Eurobeat CDs — Original Super Eurobeat pressings that never got a Western release.
The catch? Most of this is Japan-exclusive. That’s exactly why fans lean on a Japanese proxy service. If you’re new to the idea, our full guide to buying from Japan breaks down exactly how it works.
How to Buy Initial D Merch & Figures from Japan (the Cheapest Way)
The domestic Japanese marketplaces have the deepest — and cheapest — Initial D inventory anywhere. Second-hand specialist Suruga-ya[5] is a goldmine for out-of-print manga and figures, Mercari[6] is where individual sellers dump loose Tomica and apparel, and Amazon Japan and Yahoo Auctions cover everything from box sets to sealed model kits. The problem: most refuse international cards and won’t ship abroad.

That’s where OneMall comes in. As a universal proxy, OneMall buys from any Japanese store — Yahoo Auctions, Mercari, Amazon Japan, Rakuten, Suruga-ya, ZOZOTOWN — on your behalf, then ships the haul to your door. A few reasons it’s the practical, budget-friendly pick for cheap Initial D merch:
- Service fees as low as ¥200 per order — transparent pricing with no surprise markups.
- 90 days of free storage — hunt down a matching RX-7 and AE86 over weeks, then ship together.
- Package consolidation — your first 6 orders combine free, and each additional order is just ¥100, so buying the whole car lineup can cut international shipping 30–50%.
- Robotic ordering & product inspection — grab limited Tomica drops fast and have items verified before they leave Japan.
- AI Image Search — snap a screenshot of a figure and find the exact listing instantly.
Shopping through OneMall means you pay the real Japanese price — which is why importing this way is often the cheapest route to grails that resellers overseas mark up two or three times over.
Conclusion: Build Your Own Project D Shelf
From nailing the Initial D watch order to memorizing every car and finally landing that AE86 die-cast, being a fan is more fun when you can actually own the gear. Skip the inflated reseller prices and go straight to the source. Start your hunt on OneMall’s Initial D search, or browse the full catalog from the OneMall homepage — then let consolidation and 90-day storage do the heavy lifting while you drift toward a complete collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Initial D watch order?
Watch in release order: First Stage, Second Stage, Extra Stage, Third Stage (movie), Fourth Stage, Extra Stage 2, Fifth Stage, and Final Stage. For a condensed version, the New Initial D the Movie trilogy retells the early arcs.
What are the main cars in Initial D?
The headline machines on any Initial D cars list are the Toyota AE86 Trueno, Mazda RX-7 (FD and FC), Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Silvia, Subaru Impreza WRX STI, and Honda Civic/Integra. The AE86 is the undisputed star.
Where can I buy cheap Initial D merch and figures from Japan?
Japanese marketplaces like Suruga-ya, Mercari, Amazon Japan, and Yahoo Auctions have the cheapest and widest selection. Because they rarely ship internationally, a proxy such as OneMall buys and forwards items to you, so you pay real Japanese prices instead of reseller markups.
Are Initial D Blu-rays and Eurobeat CDs region-locked?
Japanese Blu-rays share Region A with North America, but DVDs are Region 2 and may need a compatible player. Music CDs are region-free and play anywhere, making imported Super Eurobeat compilations an easy win.
How does OneMall keep import costs down?
OneMall charges service fees as low as ¥200 per order, offers 90 days of free storage, and consolidates your first 6 orders for free (¥100 each after that). Combining multiple purchases into one shipment can reduce international shipping costs by 30–50%.
References
- Kodansha, official publisher site. https://www.kodansha.co.jp/
- Yahoo Auctions Japan, marketplace. https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/
- Avex Inc., music label (Super Eurobeat). https://avex.com/
- Takara Tomy, official site (Tomica die-cast). https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/english/
- Suruga-ya, second-hand marketplace. https://www.suruga-ya.jp/
- Mercari, marketplace. https://jp.mercari.com/
Last updated: 2026-08-05.
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