Keiichi Tsuchiya

Keiichi Tsuchiya (土屋 圭市, Tsuchiya Keiichi) is a professional Japanese racing driver. He is known as the Drift King (ドリキン, Dorikin) for his use of drifting in non-drifting racing events. He popularized drifting in Motorsport in the 80s and 90s, and is also known for tōge (mountain pass) racing.

Initial D
Tsuchiya served as a technical director for the Initial D manga and anime in their early stages, assisting with technical accuracies such as the movement and behaviour of the cars, drifting, and explanations on the technical side of racing.

Tsuchiya is seen in a VHS tape drifting in a Nissan Silvia S14 and later on in a Honda NSX in First Stage Act 2 and Act 6. He also appeared in Episode 23 of First Stage, where he is shown calling Bunta Fujiwara, speaking of Bunta's son, Takumi Fujiwara, and the drift that he learnt from his father, and mentions that Bunta "scarred him for life" with his monstrous drift. He also goes on to ask Bunta if thinks Takumi will win, or Ryosuke Takahashi, Takumi's opponent at the time. He later makes a cameo in the end credits of the last act of Final Stage at a D1GP event at Tokyo where he is seen talking to Takumi.

As part of an advertising campaign for the Toyota GR86, he makes an appearance in GR86 x Initial D as the GR86's driver, challenging Takumi Fujiwara to an impromptu race.

Trivia

 * Tomoyuki Tachi's racing outfit is inspired by Tsuchiya's.
 * In a famous fan-subtitled version of The Way to Project D Tsuchiya introduces himself as "Jon".