Wataru Akiyama

Wataru Akiyama (秋山 渉 Akiyama Wataru, "Aki") was one of the first racers from Saitama to actually race against Takumi Fujiwara with his turbocharged Levin; he appeared later in the Project D arc, this time replacing the turbocharger with a supercharger for more linear acceleration and to avoid Turbocharger lag.

Wataru is a skilled driver who honed his skills on the treacherous Shomaru Pass. He came to Gunma in hopes of facing new racers to challenge, as well as to watch over his sister Kazumi, who just got a job at a hotel with her aunt. Wataru is Nobuhiko's cousin, as seen when he watches Takumi race against the Northern Saitama Alliance in the hopes of finding a weak spot.

Several times throughout the Fourth Stage, Wataru reaches out to Takumi and gives him advice whenever he is in Akina, notably helping the latter overcome his "four-wheel drive complex."

Wataru later raced against Keisuke Takahashi in a wet-weather race, but when his tires lost grip upon touching a metal gutter while he adjusted his wipers, he was defeated.

Some time later, Wataru confronts the imposter Project D somewhere in Saitama and helps the real Project D expose them as the frauds they are.

He later watches the final race between Project D and Sidewinder along with Nobuhiko and Sakamoto.