User:JackJackJackJackJack/testing

Welcome to one of my personal pages, this page is where I test elements so that they do not mess up any actual pages, or so I can build pages without disrupting normal editing.

This is a new version of the Keisuke Takahashi page, t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶d̶e̶f̶i̶n̶i̶t̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶s̶i̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶c̶h̶ ̶1̶3̶t̶h̶ ̶2̶0̶2̶1̶ I reckon 6 months is enough time for a break, so this is back in action as of today, September 19th 2021. Keisuke Takahashi (高橋 啓介, Takahashi Keisuke, known as K.T. in the Tokyopop version) is a major character in Initial D, and the secondary protagonist of the Project D Arc.

An ex-delinquent, he was introduced to street racing by his brother Ryosuke and joined his team, the Akagi RedSuns, and soon became their second best driver in his Mazda ɛ̃fini RX-7 Type R (FD3S). He and his brother are nicknamed "The Rotary Brothers", as they both drive cars with rotary engines. During the RedSuns expedition to Akina, he was defeated by Takumi Fujiwara in an impromptu battle, an event that helped kickstart Fujiwara's racing career and created a rivalry between the two. He was invited by his brother to join Project D as their uphill ace.

Childhood
As a kid, Keisuke was a delinquent, hanging around with Amada. He may have been part of a bosozoku gang, as he used to hang out with bikers a lot, and frequently got into fights, which caused a lot of trouble for his parents. For a time he was depressed, with no goal in life.

Two years prior to the RedSuns attempt to conquer the racing scene in Gunma, Keisuke's brother Ryosuke took him on a downhill run on Akagi in his Mazda RX-7. Keisuke was terrified during the journey, believing that Ryosuke was getting him back for causing their family so much grief. That downhill run changed Keisuke's life, making him realise that cars were so much more than just an obstacle for a biker like him.

Keisuke would go onto get his license, eventually buying a yellow Mazda RX-7 FD3S. At some point, Keisuke joined his brother as part of the Akagi RedSuns.

At some point, Keisuke and Fumihiro were driving on the Kan-etsu Expressway when they were passed by a GT-R. Keisuke got annoyed and started racing the GT-R, easily outpacing him, as the driver wasn't a racer and was only trying to impress his girlfriend.

The White Ghost of Akina
In the summer of 199X (1996 in the Tokyopop version) Keisuke is 21 and the number 2 racer in the RedSuns. The RedSuns head to Mt. Akina and meet their local team, the SpeedStars. Keisuke greets the team, and asks them who their fastest racer is. Koichiro Iketani, the SpeedStars leader, tells him that they are the fastest team on the mountain. Keisuke introduces Fumihiro, who proposes a friendly battle between the two teams. The SpeedStars agree, and Keisuke and the rest of the RedSuns head off to practice.

Later, Keisuke talks with Ryosuke, and the two of them agree that the SpeedStars are no match for their best racers. Keisuke says that he'll pass on racing, but Ryosuke tells him that he should, as he wants him to set a record that will take the locals a long time to surpass. Ryosuke tells him that he wants the two of them and the rest of the RedSuns to be legendary on Akina, then Gunma, and finally the entirety of Kanto.

At around 4AM the next morning, Keisuke finally decides to leave Akina, along with the few members of the RedSuns who stuck around. As he heads down the mountain, he sees a car rapidly approaching behind him. He realises that it isn't anyone from the RedSuns, and is shocked to realise that it is a hatchback Toyota AE86. He gets angry, as he doesn't think such a weak car should be able to keep up with him, the number 2 racer in the Akagi RedSuns. He's shcoked as the Eight-Six shoots ahead into a corner, looking as though he'd crash. Much to his amazement, the car performs a Scandinavian flick, drifting all the way through the corner. Keisuke loses control of his car, and spins to a stop. He vows to find the driver of the car.

Keisuke visits Akina each night, in an attempt to find the Eight-Six again. On one of his visits, he wonders whether the driver was a local or just a skilled racer with a feel for the roads.

Later, Keisuke visits the Esso Gas Station in Shibukawa. He asks Iketani if there is a phantom Eight-Six on Akina, much to Iketani's amusement. Keisuke tells him that it looks like a normal Eight-Six but performs like a Formula One car, however Iketani has no idea about what he's talking about. Keisuke tells him to forget it, saying that if that's their secret weapon then he'll be glad to wait until the race on Saturday. Before he leaves, he asks Iketani to tell the ghost Eight-Six that the only reason he beat him was because he wasn't ready for him, and that it won't happen again.

On Friday night, Keisuke talks with Ryosuke about the Eight-Six on Akina, as Ryosuke wishes to use any data he can get in his analysis. Keisuke tells him that it happened too fast for him to remember anything and that he's jealous of his ability to analyse cars in incredible detail. Ryosuke tells him to forget it, and says that he's coming to the race on Akina with him, so he can see the Eight-Six in action.

On the night of the race, the Takahashi brothers arrive on Akina to a large fanfare. The RedSuns and the SpeedStars agree to do practice runs until 10PM, and Keisuke and Ryosuke wow the crowds with their skills. As it gets ever closer to 10PM, Keisuke gets annoyed that the Eight-Six hasn't shown up, and vows to make Akina look really bad in their timed runs. As the Eight-Six hadn't arrived, the SpeedStars choose Kenji and his Nissan 180SX as their competitor, much to Keisuke's chagrin. At the last second, Fumihiro hears from the finish line, and announces that a car is heading up the mountain. Keisuke says that they should start the race anyway, but Iketani interrupts, and asks Fumihiro to find out what car it was. The finish line tells them that is a Black and White Eight-Six Trueno, much to Iketani and Keisuke's shock. Keisuke tells Fumihiro to hold of on the countdown, saying that he wasnt meant to race the 180SX, which Iketani agrees with. The Eight-Six approaches the top of Akina, much to the shock of the spectators. After a enlightening conversation between the SpeedStars, the driver of the Eight-Six is revealed to be Takumi Fujiwara. Iketani agrees to let Takumi race, and he introduces himself to Keisuke, who tells him that he's glad to finally know his name. The race begins, and Keisuke shoots off far ahead of the Eight-Six, but Takumi is easily able to reduce the gap, shocking Keisuke. Takumi is able to stick right behind Keisuke in the corners, only falling behind on the straights. The two cars enter the five hairpins one after the other. On the third hairpin the Eight-Six somehow manages to take the inside line on the turn, passing Keisuke and winning the race.

Several hours later, Keisuke and Ryosuke revisit the point where the Eight-Six passed. Keisuke doesn't know what happened, but Ryosuke easily figures it out, revealing to him that the Eight-Six hooked its wheels into the gutter in order to stay on the inside of the turn. Ryosuke deduces that Takumi would have had to practice the move constantly in order to use it. He decides to cancel the RedSuns trip to Myogi, instead opting to beat Takumi himself.

A few days later, Keisuke and Ryosuke meet Fumihiro at a family restaurant. They talk about Takeshi Nakazato, the leader of the Myogi NightKids, who Ryosuke ran into on Akina a few nights prior. Fumihiro says that the NightKids are likely trying to take on the Eight-Six, as if they win they have bragging rights against the RedSuns. He thinks that an Eight-Six will easily be beaten by Nakazato's GT-R, but Ryosuke says that the GT-R likely has too much power to compete, as the Eight-Six doesn't have to slow down significantly in corners, while a high powered car would.

A few nights later, Keisuke heads up to Akina to talk with Takumi, after he hears that he's accepted a race with Nakazato. Takumi tells him that he didn't accept, and that he doesn't want to race anyone. This annoys Keisuke, who tells him that he should accept the challenge, as he could easily win. Takumi tells him that he doesn't have a reason to race, and that he isn't a racer. Keisuke, annoyed by this, interjects, telling him that there's no way that he could drive the way he does with raw talent, and that he must love it, otherwise why would he put in the time. Takumi tells him that he drives for his job, not because he loves it, to which Keisuke tells him he might not have realised how much he loved it, because why else would he have mastered all the techniques that he has. He tells Takumi that he needs to ask himself why he drives, that if he loves driving then he's a racer, and then he has pride to protect. Before he leaves, he says that he was going to tell him what the GT-R's weakness, but that if he doesn't love driving then there's no point.

On Saturday, Keisuke and Ryosuke head to Akina to watch Takumi's battle with Nakazato. Ryosuke comments on him being late to arrive, and asks Keisuke if he even thinks he'll show up, as he did say that he didn't want to race, but Keisuke believes that he will show. Takumi arrives five minutes before his race is scheduled to begin, and Ryosuke asks Keisuke if he's going to tell Takumi the GT-R's weakness. Keisuke tells him that he doesn't feel like doing so anymore, and that he has to figure it out on his own, though Keisuke feels that he will win. Right before the battle begins, Ryosuke tells Keisuke to get in the FC, and that they'll watch from the best seats. As the two racers set off, Ryosuke's FC follows right behind them in order to get a good view of the battle. Ryosuke comments on Takumi's drifting, how he controls his Eight-Six like its an extension of his own body, something even he can't do. Keisuke points out that Nakazato's GT-R is pulling away from the Eight-Six, but Ryosuke tells him that the real battle hasn't even started, as the early part of the course doesn't allow the Eight-Six to use its full potential. Later down the course, Keisuke is amazed by how fast Takumi can go using the gutter drop. He thinks to himself that Takumi must be insane, as he performs a four wheel drift barely missing a guardrail. Keisuke realises how the Eight-Six manages to be so fast, he doesn't decelerate more than he needs to, drifting around corners to reduce how much he has to slow down. In the five hairpins, Takumi manages to take the inner line to come alongside Nakazato, who spins out shortly after, with Ryosuke narrowly dodging him. Ryosuke and Keisuke talk afterwards, with the both of them being amazed by what they have seen. Keisuke comments that the Eight-Six's ABS must be great, but Ryosuke corrects him, telling him that the Eight-Six didn't have ABS, and that what they had seen was purely the drivers skill.

Several days later, Keisuke meets with Fumihiro, and they talk about Ryosuke with Keisuke telling him that he's been strategizing how to beat the Eight-Six ever since the battle. They talk about if Ryosuke can beat the Eight-Six, Fumihiro thinks that he likely would, and Keisuke agrees with him, though he also doesn't see the Eight-Six losing either. He says that he doesn't want to see the two of them race, as he wouldn't know who to root for.

Exclusively in First Stage, Keisuke and Ryosuke spectate the battle between Takumi and Shingo Shoji of the NightKids (in the manga this battle is spontaneous, and thus was only seen by the SpeedStars and a few members of the NightKids).

At some point, Fumihiro and Keisuke meet in a family restaurant, and discuss Ryosuke's recent offer from a professional racing team from Tokyo who race at the Fuji Speedway. Fumihiro says that Ryosuke must be happy, as he's been dreaming about something like this for his whole life, but Keisuke tells him that Ryosuke seems the exact opposite, as if someone had died.

A few days later, Ryosuke meets Keisuke to show him his FC3S before his race with Takumi. Keisuke asks how much power his car can make now, and is shocked when he says its tuned to make 240HP, a whole 100 less horsepower than it could make before. Ryosuke explains that he intended to make the car faster, and that dropping the power was an unintended side effect of that. He says that it may be a blessing in disguise however, as he wants to go up against the Eight-Six on equal terms instead of just outpowering him.

At some point later, Keisuke practices on Akina when he is challenged by Nakazato of the NightKids. The two race all the way up to the summit of Akina, where they stop and talk. The two bicker for a bit, before agreeing to have a rematch again when the RedSuns head to Myogi. Nakazato says that he cant seem to stop thinking about the Eight-Six, mentioning that even his teammate Shingo cant stop praising it, despite his usually negative attitude. He says the Eight-Six manages to charm drivers, and tells Keisuke that he doesn't want anyone else to beat him other than himself. Keisuke lies to him, telling him that he can't relate.

On Saturday, Keisuke heads to Akina to watch his brothers race. Ryosuke pulls Keisuke aside before the race, and tells him that he's going to retire from racing if he loses the battle. He tells Keisuke that he doesn't intend on losing, but that one day he will have to lead the RedSuns. He continues, telling him that he thinks only two people will ever be able to beat him, saying that the first is Keisuke. He changes his mind about telling him the second one, and declares there is no way he will lose. Keisuke gives the countdown, and Ryosuke and Takumi shoot off down the mountain. Mid way through the race, Keisuke is told that the Eight-Six is going ten seconds faster than when he faced him, leaving him amazed by both his brother and Takumi's skills. Ryosuke passes Takumi in the five hairpins, much to Keisuke amazement. Takumi manages to pass Ryosuke, winning the race. When the news is relayed to the top of the mountain everyone is quiet, shocked to silence by the news.

A few weeks later, Keisuke and Ryosuke talk in a family restaurant, where Ryosuke tells him that he is thinking about putting together a new team. Keisuke is shocked by this, telling him he won't let him break up the RedSuns, but Ryosuke says that they will be fine, and that this new team will be separate from them. He elaborates, telling him that he wants to get some elite racers together to continue his plan to conquer all of Kanto by racing against specialists on their own courses. He explains that he'll need some top of the line racers in order to pull it off, and that he will just be the director of the team. Keisuke asks why they dont just use the RedSuns, but Ryosuke tells him that he's the only member of the team that is good enough for what he wants to do. He finishes, saying that they're going to scout all the other teams in Gunma, in order to try and find the talent he wants.

A few days later, Keisuke practices on Akagi with Kenta Nakamura, a young member of the RedSuns. Kenta asks why Keisuke won't rematch the Eight-Six, and assumes that he's scared of losing again. Kenta asks him to let him race Takumi on Akagi, but Keisuke reminds him that the RedSuns dont challenge people to race on Akagi. Keisuke says to him that there are more important things to worry about other than the Eight-Six, like their upcoming battle with the NightKids.

On Saturday the RedSuns head up to Myogi for the battle. Keisuke greets Nakazato, his opponent for the uphill. Both sides are given 30 minutes to warm up before the uphill battle starts. The two racers set off down the mountain for a practice run, and passes Takumi in his Eight-Six on the way down. After the practice, Keisuke talks with Ryosuke, and tells him that the tuning for his car is perfect. He asks Ryosuke if he saw Takumi when they went past, and says that he's glad that he'll be watching. The uphill race begins, and Nakazato manages to pull ahead off the line, due to his cars sheer power. Keisuke is able to keep up with Nakazato even though he is at a disadvantage on the straightaways, as he has the upper hand when it comes to the corners. He thinks to himself that he used to race like Nakazato, violently and with a reliance on power, but that thanks to Ryosuke he has grown past that. Rain starts to fall, but Keisuke notices that it hasn't yet rained enough to make the road slick. He makes his move in the final corner, ignoring the rain that is blocking his vision and instead focusing on finding the optimal line. He takes the outside line in the corner, and his rear wheel hooks up onto the pavement, allowing him to keep on the road, and win the race. The two racers talk after, with Nakazato telling Keisuke that he got lucky. Keisuke tells him that he could tell how much grip his tires had through the vibrations of his steering wheel, which Nakazato dismisses, as he's never felt that himself. Keisuke tells him that it's likely because he drives a 4WD, whereas he drives an FR. He continues, telling him that he pushed his car too hard, and that he needed some grip on his cars in order to maintain his speed in the final stretch. Ryosuke tells Keisuke that they're cancelling their downhill run, as the rain makes it too dangerous. However someone mentions that the crowd isn't leaving, as they still want to see the downhill. Kenta chimes in, asking if he can take on Takumi, which Keisuke dismisses, however Ryosuke says that he should let him race, much to Keisuke's shock. Keisuke is disappointed he can't race Takumi, but Ryosuke tells him that he's going to attach a camera to Kenta's S14, in order to get some footage of the Eight-Six. Keisuke gives the countdown, and the two cars shoot of down the mountain. Takumi is easily able to pass Kenta, winning him the race.

Emperor
The next day, Keisuke is woken up by his cousin Tsugumi, who Ryosuke had sent to get him. The two of them watch the video tape from Kenta's car, with Ryosuke commenting on his skill driving in the rain. Ryosuke comments that while he doesn't understand Takumi's abilities, he wants him for his new team. Keisuke asks to rewind the tape, as the Eight-Six has disappeared from view, but Ryosuke tells him to wait a moment. A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is seen passing Kenta, which annoys Keisuke, as they had interrupted an organised race. Ryosuke tells him that he thinks he knows what team they're from, and they're going to need to get serious in order to face them.

Some time later, the team, revealed to be Emperor, heads to Akina to face Takumi and his Eight-Six. Emperor is represented by Seiji Iwaki, the driver of the Lan Evo from the battle on Myogi. Keisuke spectates the battle along with Fumihiro and Kenta, at a point in the course where Ryosuke said something big would happen. Kenta expresses that he doesn't think an Eight-Six can beat a Lan Evo, but Keisuke dismisses him, reminding him that he said the same thing about his S14. Keisuke relays something Ryosuke had told him, that Takumi excels in the links between corners and straightaways, and that in order to beat him you need to manage your tires, instead of getting pent up and wasting them by trying to overtake. The two cars rapidly approach where they are watching from, Takumi performs a gutter hook, allowing him to pull alongside Seiji and take the inner line on the upcoming corner, giving him enough of a lead to win the race.

A little while later, Keisuke talks with Fumihiro and Kenta on Akagi. He tells them that the Emperors are coming to battle them in a week. He says while the RedSuns don't usually race on their home course, if they're challenged they're always glad to teach them a thing or two about racing.

Three days before the RedSuns face Emperor, Ryosuke talks with the other Akagi teams and makes it so that Emperor can practice on the course until their battles. Keisuke doesn't think they should be so nice to them, but Ryosuke says that they wouldn't want to battle an opponent who hasn't practiced. Later into the night, Keisuke is surprised when he sees Takumi heading up Akagi, and runs to tell Ryosuke. Keisuke says that they shouldn't let him race against Emperor, but Ryosuke tells him that its a public road, and that Takumi can do whatever he wants. Takumi is up against Kyoichi Sudo, the leader of Emperor. Keisuke hears Sudo's Evo III backfiring as he heads down the course, and notices that it sounds different from normal. He's shocked when Ryosuke tells him that he has an anti-lag system the same as those used in WRC cars. Ryosuke and Keisuke hear from further down the course that Takumi has been passed, and Keisuke thinks that there has to be a point where Takumi can pass again. Ryosuke shuts him down, telling him that the Eight-Six is no longer unbeaten. Keisuke is disappointed, and asks himself why he couldn't just let the RedSuns do their job and defeat Emperor. Ryosuke explains that with Sudo's skills and his cars set up, the race was over before it had even began. He comments that Takumi showed up out of the blue and began racing without knowledge of the course. He guesses that Takumi is likely just racing out of anger, in order to blow off steam. Takumi goes on to lose the race, blowing his engine trying to keep up with Sudo.

The next day, Keisuke heads to the gas station in Shibukawa in order to talk to Takumi, however Iketani tells him that it's his day off. Upon hearing this he decides to leave a message for Takumi with them. He asks them to tell him that the battle with Sudo doesn't count, that he doesn't recognise the loss, and that the RedSuns will avenge him.

That night, Keisuke faces Seiji in a close uphill battle. The two racers manage to go so fast that they break the course record (this battle is only mentioned in the manga, however it is included in Initial D Battle Stage, and Keisuke is shown overtaking Seiji in the S shaped corners on the course). Ryosuke faces Sudo in a downhill battle. Keisuke speaks with Kenta during the race, and tells him that he thinks Ryosuke will come out on top, despite Sudo's skill. He explains that the battle with the Eight-Six gave him a significant amount of data on Sudo, which should help him secure victory. Ryosuke wins the battle by taking advantage of Sudo's weakness with right turns (information that he learned because of the battle the night before). Kenta asks Keisuke how he managed to do so much better than in the time trials, and he tells him that no one risks going all out in the time trials, as its not worth it, but in an actual race you're able to go all out.

The New Eight-Six
Around a few weeks after the battles with Emperor, Keisuke is approached by Wataru Akiyama on Akagi. Wataru challenges Keisuke to a race, but he declines. Wataru asks if it is because he drives an Eight-Six, but Keisuke tells him that he doesn't race on his home course. He continues, telling him that no one in Gunma would diss a racer for driving an Eight-Six, due to Takumi's unbeaten record. He finishes, telling him that even he was beaten by the Eight-Six, before leaving with Kenta. Wataru ambushes them as they leave, forcing them into an impromptu battle. Wataru is able to keep up with Keisuke, because of his skills and the fact that his Eight-Six is turbocharged. Their battle is interrupted by a local racer's crashed car in the middle of the road. The two racers narrowly avoid the car, bringing their race to a close.

Exclusively in Second Stage, Keisuke, Ryosuke and Kenta all watch the battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Wataru Akiyama on Shomaru Pass.

A while later, Ryosuke goes ahead with his plans for his new team, and asks Takumi to join, alongside Keisuke.

Before making his decision, Takumi asks Ryosuke to get him a race with Kyoichi Sudo on his home course, so that the two of them can have a rematch. Keisuke sees it as disrespectful, as he thinks Takumi is blowing him off just to get revenge. Ryosuke disagrees, telling him that he thinks Takumi intends to join them, but that he lacks the confidence due to his loss to Sudo. He elaborates that he's likely testing his new engine, and his skills, to make sure he's good enough to be a part of the team. Ryosuke tells Keisuke about Irohazaka, and says that Takumi is at a disadvantage, as the course is all low speed corners, which Sudo excels at. He mentions that Takumi's upgraded Eight-Six does add an extra layer of unpredictability, as he doesn't know how the car performs. Keisuke doubts that the Eight-Six could properly go up against Sudo's Evo III, no matter how well its tuned. Ryosuke tells him that the Eight-Six may be an exception. He elaborates that around when the Eight-Six broke down, he had heard news about an unusual engine showing up at an auto shop in Shibukawa. He says that it was a Group A engine from a touring car, much to Keisuke's amazement. He says that if its one of the engines used in their AE101s then the engine can likely make 240HP and rev to 11,000RPM. He speculates that it's likely been detuned for street use, but that it should still be very powerful, saying that if Takumi can beat Sudo on his home course then they'll know that the car is for real. He asks Keisuke why he thinks racing engines use dry sump, and Keisuke tells him that its so that the motor is kept light. Ryosuke tells him that it also gives the car a lower centre of gravity, which improves your handling, and as Takumi was already great with turns, the engine should make him even better.

Two days after, Keisuke waits up on Akina to run into Takumi. He turns up at 4:40AM, and Keisuke congratulates him on his victory against Sudo, much to Takumi's shock, as it had happened so recently. Keisuke comments that it's almost Winter, and that the new team will be starting up in Spring. He asks Takumi if he's going to join them or not. He tells him that it'll only be for a year, but that he'll do anything to make his dream come true. He says it's a good deal for him, as he gets a full year of tutoring from Ryosuke, which will give him all the skills he needs to be a pro. He finishes, telling Takumi that at the end of it all they can race, and that he can finally go pro after destroying him.

Exclusively in Third Stage, Keisuke and Ryosuke head to Irohazaka to watch the battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Kai Kogashiwa with the members of Emperor.

Exclusively in Third Stage, Keisuke spectates the rematch between his brother and Takumi.

Project D - Tochigi
Keisuke becomes the uphill ace of Project D, with Tomiguchi acting as his personal mechanic. Takumi also joins him, as the team's downhill ace. The two of them battle a few teams before then head to Tochigi.

Project D heads to the Momiji Line to face their fastest team, the Seven Star Leaves. Fumihiro greets the team, and they agree to let Project D practice on the course for the night. Ryosuke sends Keisuke and Takumi on practice runs, telling them to look for their weak spots while practicing, so they dont surprise them later.

On the night of the race, Seven Star Leaf request to do the downhill battle first, meaning Keisuke will race second. Takumi wins his battle after his opponent crashes his car. Keisuke is up against Atsuro Kawai on the uphill. Before their race, Keisuke comments on his opponents car, as he is surprised that he drives an FR Nissan Skyline GT-T and not the AWD GT-R. The two racers greet each other, and the race begins. Atsuro starts in the lead, with Keisuke following close behind. Once they reach the section of the course with open gutters, Atsuro starts to guard the inside (as Takumi had used the gutters to pass in the downhill). Keisuke says to himself that they wouldn't use the same strategy twice in a row, and that he isn't yet ready to pass. He continues, noting Atsuro's sluggish cornering and how he pushes his cars power to the max where he can. He mocks him for his lack of skill, saying that just about anyone can get behind the wheel and put their foot down on the straightaways, and says that he will give him a demonstration in proper driving. Using his superior cornering, Keisuke is able to pass Atsuro on one of the straights. After their race, Atsuro asks how he had managed to pass him, and Keisuke tells him that while his FD is no faster than his GT-T, Atsuro lacks the technique to use his car to his fullest potential. Keisuke manages to set a new uphill record during the time trials.

A few days later, Keisuke heads to Akagi with Kenta. Keisuke compliments him on his driving, but tells him that if he wanted to be a part of Project D he would need to be able to do that on other mountains too. Kenta tells Keisuke that he's been helping the team too, such as driving Fumihiro while he recorded the next course they're going to, the Enna Skyline. Keisuke tells him that he didn't know he was the one driving, and says that his steering was off, much to Kenta's embarrassment.

Project D head to the Enna Skyline to face their next opponents, some of the top students of the Todo School, a Tochigi based racing school lead by an ex-rally driver. The school reserves the road so that Project D can practice, something that Keisuke questions as they're usually racing on public roads. Fumihiro tells him that the road is still technically under construction, and so there isnt any traffic. Keisuke is surprise to see Kenta there, which annoys him as he had been driving their backup car the whole time. Kenta asks if he can ride shotgun with Keisuke once he's got his car properly set up, but Keisuke tells him that there probably wont be enough time to do so, as he thinks their opponents look tough. Tomiguchi finishes getting the FD ready, and Keisuke sets off on his practice runs.

The next evening, the battles begin. The downhill is up first, with Takumi facing off against Daiki Ninomiya and his Honda Civic. Keisuke spectates the battle along with Ryosuke. Keisuke asks what he had said on the phone to Takumi before the battle. Ryosuke tells him that he told Takumi to not use his rearview mirror until the end of the first run, and to keep his revs down. Ryosuke says that the plan needed to be simple, as Takumi works on instinct, and that if he can get to the second round then he should be able to win. During the second run, Ryosuke asks Keisuke and Kenta if they know why Takumi keeping up with Daiki gives them a bigger advantage. Keisuke says that because Daiki drives an FF his front tires are taking all of the abuse, which is bad as they're the ones moving the car forward. Takumi manages to pass, winning the race.

Keisuke greets his opponent for the uphill, Sakai. Keisuke asks him if his Honda Integra is Naturally Aspirated, and is intrigued when is told that it has a rear attached turbocharger. Sakai chooses to take the lead, and Ryosuke tells Keisuke that they're going to try win on the first run. The race begins, and Keisuke is amazed by the Integra's traction on the uphill. Keisuke manages to keep up with Sakai until after the second hairpin, where Sakai performs a brake feint. Keisuke instinctively takes his foot off the accelerator before quickly pushing it back down again, realising that Sakai had tricked him. This error costs him twenty metres, as the Turbo in his engine lagged when he removed his foot from the pedal. Keisuke follows Sakai into the next corner, barely realising his mistake in time. Sakai baited him into entering the corner at too high a speed. He enters into a half spin, and barely recovers before he collides with the guardrail. A fire is lit within him, and he starts to shorten the gap between them. The two enter into the fourth hairpin, and as the turn comes out into an S-curve, Keisuke manages to take the inside line by driving on the embankment next to the road. The two leave the turn next to eachother, and Sakai trys to pull away, however there isnt enough time before the next turn. The two brake for the turn, and on the straight afterwards Keisuke manages to pull ahead, winning the race. Keisuke talks with Kenta and Fumihiro after their race, and tells them that the Sakai lost the control of his line, as the two had come around the corner at the same time. Fumihiro asks him if he came up with that strategy on his own, and Keisuke tells him that he hadn't intended to do that. He says that he realised he could squeeze by using the embankment and just went for it. During the time trials, both the uphill and downhill records are broken.

Some time later, all of Project D meet on Akagi to discuss their next race. The Todo School has called in one of their graduates, Tomoyuki Tachi, a professional racer. Keisuke asks who will be racing, and Ryosuke tells him that he wants the two of them to practice on the course before he makes his decision. After hearing that they're facing a pro, Keisuke insists that he is the more sensible choice to race, as his FD is better suited to a mixed course such as the one they're racing on. Ryosuke shuts him down, reiterating that he'll make his decision after they practice.

The next day, Keisuke meets with Fumihiro, and tells him that Ryosuke chose to head off early to do his own inspection of the course. At Happogahara, Ryosuke tells the two that the course is very tough, and that in order to win they'll need their best driver and car. He sends both aces off on five practice laps. Keisuke finishes his laps, and is shocked to hear that Ryosuke has gone to sleep, as he wanted feedback on his settings. Keisuke comments that the course really is as tough as Ryosuke had said, and Kenta says that at least it isnt the Todo School's home course. Keisuke tells him that regardless they still know the course better than they do. He wonders how his skills will fare against a pro, and sets off to practice.

On the day of the race, Keisuke and Takumi patiently wait to hear which of them will be racing. Ryosuke tells them that Takumi will be representing the team, much to Keisuke's annoyance. Ryosuke tells him that he will explain himself later, before heading off in his FC with Takumi. Fumihiro tells Keisuke not to let it get him down, as he hasn't let the team make a mistake before, but Keisuke tells him that's exactly why he's annoyed. Keisuke sulks in his FD for the beginning of the race, before Kenta comes to get him at Ryosuke's request. Ryosuke asks Keisuke if he wants to know why he chose Takumi, and Keisuke tells him he thinks that its because he was too focused on their opponent being a pro, as Takumi wouldn't be distracted by a detail like that. Ryosuke tells him that that was one reason, but not his main one. He explains that he chose Keisuke and Takumi for Project D is so the team can have two completely different approaches to racing. Whilst Keisuke is traditional, knows the motorsports world and is familiar with circuit racing, Takumi specialises in street racing, and is a natural when it comes to mountain road's irregular conditions. He continues, saying that Tachi is a orthodox racer, like Keisuke, and so an unorthodox opponent, such as Takumi, would be better suited to compete, as the difference in driving styles would be more likely to cause Tachi to make an error. He tells them that he couldn't tell them straight up, just in case the Todo School caught on to his plan. Fumihiro asks Ryosuke what adivce he had given Takumi, but Ryosuke tells him that he hadn't given him any advice, much to his and Keisuke's shock. Ryosuke tells them that he had just driven Takumi round the course, so that Takumi would absorb his techniques and oberservations about the course. Fumihiro hears from down the course, the Eight-Six is driving without its headlights. Keisuke asks Ryosuke what Takumi is doing, but he doesn't respond. The two racers reach the final stretch, Keisuke comments that this'll be Project D's first defeat, as there's nowhere for Takumi to pass. He says that they all need to congratulate Takumi when he gets back, as he deserves it for his effort. He, Fumihiro and Kenta all head to the finish line, where Keisuke talks to Sakai about the battle. Sakai comments that the battle will be a thing of legend, regardless of the outcome. He then says that he's glad that they met, as the races have been a lot of fun, which Keisuke is happy to hear. The two cars come screaming out of the final corner side by side, and Takumi manages to pull ahead of Tachi, winning the battle. All of the spectators are completely speechless.

Saitama and Ibaraki
A short while later, Keisuke heads with Fumihiro to Sadamine in Saitama Prefecture, in order to record the course for the team, as Kenta, who would normally do it, has gotten into an accident. The two of them find a mobile phone in a parking lot, and hand it into the nearby coffee shop. Before they set off to record the course, a woman driving a black FD pulls up and begins looking around. Keisuke approaches her and asks her if she'd lost her phone, and tells her where to find it. She tells him that it must have fallen out of her door's pocket, and thanks him before heading off to retrieve it. They head off on their runs, and Fumihiro tells Keisuke to not drive so recklessly, as a civilian might come by. Keisuke brushes him off, telling him that he's holding the daytime line.

The next evening, Project D heads to Sadamine to meet their opponents, a local car club. Ryosuke tells Keisuke and Takumi to do five laps of the course, and tells Keisuke that he chose the course specifically to improve his skills, much to Keisuke's surprise. Keisuke takes a smoke break after completing his laps, and tells Fumihiro that the course is rough because of how uneven the road surface is. Fumihiro points out to Keisuke that the woman who lost her phone is a part of the team they're up against. Keisuke is uninterested, but Fumihiro tells him that she's had her eyes on him the whole night, and asks if he thinks she's their uphill driver, though Keisuke again doesn't seem to be interested. He says he's there to battle the course, not their driver, and assures Fumihiro that he isn't going to lose.

The day of the race, Keisuke stumbles upon his opponent stopped on the course. He approaches her and asks if she's having trouble with her car. She tells him that her car felt like it just ran out of horsepower, and that it had been acting odd for the past few days. Keisuke asks her if she's the uphill racer for the upcoming battles, and when she says yes he says that he's disappointed, as he was looking forward to going up against her. He tells her that he thought she'd give him a good workout, as they both drive the same car, but he scolds her, telling her she should have checked her engine before it got dark. He tells her that he's annoyed he has to race against someone who cant take care of her car, though he apologises when he sees that he's upset her. She tells him that he's right, and that she would say the same thing if she was in his shoes. Keisuke drives off down the course, before returning with Tomiguchi in one of the support vans. They move her car to a nearby noodle shop, and Tomiguchi figures out that the hose connecting to her cooling system is damaged. Keisuke asks if they can fix it and Tomiguchi tells him that they can, though they'll need some parts. They get the car working, and Keisuke tells her to give him a good race as thanks. Tomiguchi and Keisuke head back to his car, making their final adjustments.

Right before the beginning of the race, Fumihiro tells Keisuke that his opponent has chosen to start in front. Fumihiro jokes with Keisuke, telling him not to get cocky trying to show off to her because she's cute. Keisuke gets defensive, saying that she's not his type, and says that he'll beat her in the first round. At the start line, his opponent finally introduces herself as Kyoko Iwase, and they wish each other good luck. Keisuke talks with Ryosuke, who tells him that he hasn't offered any instructions because he wanted to see how he would prepare on his own. He asks how he'd grade himself, and Keisuke reckons he'd get an eight out of ten, which Ryosuke agrees with, given that an FR isn't the most suited to the course. Ryosuke chooses to give Keisuke one bit of advice, telling him that Kyoko's FD has a single turbo, much to Keisuke's confusion. The race begins, and Keisuke immediately notices Kyoko's power output. He compliments her driving, but is confused on why he isn't performing as well as he thinks he should be, as he doesn't think she's as good as any of the Todo School drivers, and he was able to beat them easily. He doubts that it's a skill issue, and guesses that something is wrong with his car. He decides not to panic, as he should have enough time to figure out the issue. Keisuke is amazed by Kyoko's speed, and acknowledges that he was wrong for doubting her skills because she is a girl. He decides that he's going to overtake on the next straightaway, but wishes he could figure out how she gets so much power coming out of corners. He ponders what Ryosuke had said before the race, but cant figure out what he had meant. He realises that he's wearing down his tires quickly because he keeps sliding out of corners, whilst Kyoko is able to keep her traction. He considers easing up on the accelerator, but decides to change up how he uses the pedal instead, as to prevent her from getting further away. He attempts some subtle accelerator work, but it continues to frustrate him. He feels as though she's just pulling him along for the ride, as he's unable to drive in his usual style. Kyoko accidentally taps her brake pedal at the wrong time, throwing off her acceleration. As Keisuke shortens the gap between them, he finally realises what Ryosuke had meant. As Kyoko drives a single turbo, she has more turbo lag than Keisuke's twin turbo. Keisuke takes advantage of this, and forces his way into Kyoko's line, tapping her rear bumper as he comes alongside her. The two cars enter the next hairpin neck and neck, Keisuke is able to exit the corner in the lead, winning himself the race. Keisuke talks with Ryosuke and Fumihiro after the race, and tells him that the race was tougher than it should have been because of the FDs settings. He tells them how he figured out Kyoko's weakness, and comments that her car isn't nearly as good when you get side by side with her. Ryosuke tells him to remember the accelerator techniques, as they will be a useful weapon for him in the future. Keisuke talks with Kenta, who realises that he's pretty hungry. Keisuke tells him that there's plenty of snacks in the vans, and tells him that he's already eaten so he doesn't want anything. As Kenta leaves, Kyoko approaches and thanks Keisuke for helping her out with her car, but Keisuke shuts her down, telling her that there wouldn't have been a race without her. He thanks her for giving him a good race, helping him figure some techniques out. He apologises for being mean to her earlier in the night. She asks him if he's seeing anyone, and is overjoyed when he says that he isn't, before she promptly leaves.

The next day, Keisuke practices on Akagi. Keisuke returns to the top of the mountain to find Kyoko waiting for him. He asks her why she's on Akagi, and she tells him that she was thinking of him and that she thought he would be here. He tells her that if she doesn't have a good reason to be there then she should go home. Kyoko is upset with how he's acting, and Keisuke tells her that she's just in the way by being there. She asks to just watch for a bit, and tells him that she just wants to watch him drive, because she's never felt like this before. She tells him that she likes him, and that she's never had feelings for a guy before, so she wants to at least try be near to him. Keisuke tells her that he doesn't think she's in the way physically, explaining that if he didn't like her he wouldn't have a problem with her being there, but he cant ignore her now that she's there. He tells her that he's done talking, and again asks her to leave before walking off. Fumihiro asks him if he's ok, and Keisuke tells him that he's unsure but that he's done practicing for the day anyway. He drives away, and thinks to himself that he screwed that up, but justifies it by saying he cant afford to get distracted. He thinks that if he lets his guard down he'll get beaten easily, he wants to be like Takumi, as he's completely focused on racing. He thinks a girlfriend would be a disaster for him right now, maybe in a year or two he'd be able to deal with it, but in the meantime he needs to just stay focused on racing, like Takumi.

A few days later, Keisuke and Fumihiro head to Maze Pass to record the course for their upcoming battles. On the drive back, Fumihiro comments on how narrow the course is, and Keisuke says that while it is a tough course, its probably better than Sadamine, as the road surface was poor and you couldn't see around any of the corners. Fumihiro decides to bring up Kyoko, and asks Keisuke what he doesn't like about here, as most guys would love it if a girl drove all the way out just to see them drive. Keisuke tells him that he wants to give Project D his full attention, and Fumihiro says that he's got a bad case of tunnel vision. He tells him to lighten up a little, and that a girl would be a plus for him if he could handle her right. He asks Keisuke if he likes her, and can tell how he feels just from the look on his face. Fumihiro tells him that she wouldn't get in the way like his previous girlfriend, after all she's a racer herself. Keisuke ends the conversation, asking to just talk about the race.

The next day, Project D heads to Maze Pass, to meet the newly formed Northern Saitama Alliance. Takumi and Keisuke are greeted by Wataru Akiyama, who tells Keisuke that he's his opponent for the uphill tomorrow, and Keisuke says that he can go all out against him. The two aces talk with Ryosuke, who tells them that there's a fifty percent chance of rain, but that they should still do fifty circuits by the morning. Keisuke and Tomiguchi head out on their practice runs. Keisuke returns from his runs to refill his car, and speaks with Ryosuke, who tells him that he should do a few runs with no headlights, as if it rains he wont have any visibility, and so he should prepare just in case. Keisuke heads back out on his runs.

The next day, Keisuke is parked in a layby when Kyoko appears and starts checking out his car. She's shocked when she realises Keisuke is in the car, and he tells her that he was sleeping, because he pulled an all-nighter. He says that he's starving, and invites her to go and get something to eat. They go to a nearby roadside diner, and Kyoko asks if he eats at them very often, with him saying that there aren't many other places to eat when you're driving all the time. She asks if they always sleep in their cars when on the road, and he says that they usually do, though the bucket seats aren't good for their backs. She wonders why they dont go to motels, and Keisuke tells her that because they're practicing all night they often cant check in to a motel when they're done. He tells her that they should probably head back, as he should get some more sleep in while he has the chance. On the way back, Keisuke falls asleep in the passenger seat of her car, and she lets him be, noting the rain before dosing off herself. Keisuke awakes at about six, and is shocked by the amount of time he spent asleep. He feels sorry for Kyoko as she wasted her day just watching him sleep, but she tells him that she wasn't doing anything anyway, much to his amusement. He leaves her, as he needs to get back and adjust his settings for the rain.

At seven, the two teams are gathered on the mountain, and Kenta asks why they chose a Cappuccino as the car to go up against Takumi, doubting its power. Keisuke reminds him that everyone thought the same about Takumi when he was back on Akina. Keisuke goes and talks with Wataru, who tells him that he would only be half satisfied if they can beat the Eight-Six, as he wants to take finally Keisuke down. Keisuke tells him that he's getting ahead of himself, as they haven't even started yet, but he tells him that he already knows Takumi will lose. Keisuke tells him that if its car against car then sure they would win, but the driver can change everything. Wataru tells him not to doubt their driver, Sakamoto, as he's the real deal. Keisuke doesn't doubt that, but he still think's Takumi has a special something that makes him different. Part way into Takumi's race, Keisuke tells Fumihiro that he doesn't like how sneaky their opponents were, choosing a rally driver and a very light car in order to win easier. He says there's no honour in winning like this. Fumihiro says that the race was always going to be tough, but the rain may give Takumi an advantage. He comments that if Takumi can get through the first half there will be less slopes, noting the irony, as Takumi usually excels on the slopes, whereas this time he's just got to keep up until they end. Takumi wins his battle.

Keisuke talks with Wataru, who tells him that he changed to a supercharger, as after losing to Takumi he realised that his old turbo wasn't great, so when it broke he got a 4A-GZE. He tells him that he gets a great direct response from it, and while the RPM is lower than a turbo, it has great torque. He says that his car is much faster than a turbo, and Keisuke tells him that they can test his theory in the race. At the start line, Ryosuke tells Keisuke that his only job is to follow their plan, and that the conditions are in their favour. The race begins, with Wataru leading and Keisuke following. Keisuke comments on the power of the supercharger, and acknowledges his opponents skill, but thinks to himself that he's pushing his car a long way from the finish. The battle continues into its second round, and the race order is switched, with Keisuke leading. A ways into the course, Keisuke is surprised Wataru is able to keep up with, though he notes that he's only using about half of his horsepower, and that he specialises in high speed racing. He thinks to himself that a race like this would originally have driven him mad, but after learning his accelerator techniques its much more tolerable for him. The battle continues into its third round, with Wataru once again in the lead. Keisuke notes something off in Wataru's movements, realising that he must be getting tired and decides to up the pressure he's putting on him. A short while later, Keisuke's focus begins to crack, and he starts to lose control. The rain gets even worse, and as they take a corner, Wataru reaches for his wiper controls. As he drives over a metal grating, he loses control and spins out, with Keisuke narrowly dodging him. The two racers talk, and Keisuke tells Wataru that he's lucky he didn't hit anything when he span out. He explains to him that he knows the course like the back of his hand, but he had caught a bad spot, which cost him the race. As Project D goes to leave, Keisuke spots Kyoko watching from the side lines, but choses to ignore her.

Due to an extended period of rain, Project D's next set of races are postponed.

A few weeks later, Project D have another set of races against an unnamed team in Saitama.

Around a week later, Project D head to Tsuchisaka to face a local team. One of the team's racers, Aikawa, tells Ryosuke that he doesn't want for the two teams to practice together, in case Project D were to make them crash, much to Keisuke's annoyance. He tells Kenta that he reckons that they just don't want them to have enough time to practice, and Kenta agrees. Keisuke says that he'll beat them regardless of if they have enough time to prepare or not. At 1AM, Project D is finally allowed to practice, and Keisuke scrambles to get going. A few laps in, Keisuke starts to feel good about how his FD is handling, when he turns a corner and notices that the road is wet. He initially thinks it is water, but quickly realises that the road is covered in oil. This realisation comes too late, and the FD crashes into the guardrail. Keisuke quickly calls Fumihiro, and tells him about his situation, making sure he stops the Eight-Six so it doesn't meet the same fate. The support team hurry down to Keisuke's position, and realise that it must have been their opponents who did this. Keisuke wants to chase them down and confront them, but Ryosuke shuts him down, saying that it would be a waste of time, which Keisuke is surprised by. Tomiguchi tells Keisuke that the suspension is damaged, and there'll be no way he can get it working at 100% by the time of the race, but Keisuke tells him that he intends to race regardless of how messed up the car is. Immediately after, Aikawa drives up and mocks the team, which angers Keisuke. Keisuke accuses him of pouring the oil on the road, but Aikawa feigns innocence and acts offended, which causes Keisuke to threaten him. Aikawa implies that Project D is nothing more than a group of thugs, and Fumihiro apologises on Keisuke's behalf. He asks that the race be postponed for a week, to allow repairs to the FD to be made, but Aikawa shuts him down, telling him that he has plans that he can't reschedule. Before he leaves, Aikawa tells them that they can use any replacement car they want, but that if they aren't there then they lose. Keisuke kicks the guardrail, and Ryosuke tells him to stop moping and start helping the others clean up the oil. He tells Takumi and Matsumoto to keep preparing for the battle, and Keisuke asks him what they're going to do about the FD. He tells him that there's no point in trying to fix it, because there's no way it will be functional in time, and that he'll be sitting this one out. Keisuke tries to argue back, that if they don't do anything then they get away with playing dirty, but Ryosuke tells him that it's his own fault for damaging the FD, and that if he was driving then the car would still be at least drivable. Kenta tells Keisuke that he doesn't think it was his fault, but Keisuke says that Ryosuke is right, that if it were him the car would be fine, and that it was his own carelessness that enabled them to catch him in their trap. Regardless, he still feels as though he should redeem himself, even though he doesn't have a car to race in.

At 10AM the next day, Keisuke and Tomiguchi perform repairs on the FD. Kenta heads to a Mazda Auto Parts Outlet in Gunma to get some parts that Tomiguchi had put in a request for, much to Fumihiro and Matsumoto's surprise. Tomiguchi says that if they get those parts installed then they should be able to drive the FD home, but that it may not be able to handle corners too well. The group notice that Takumi is awake, and he asks if they need any help. Keisuke shuts him down, telling him that he should be resting for the upcoming battle. Takumi argues that he couldnt sleep even if he wanted to, and that Keisuke and the support team havent even slept. Keisuke tells the group that he knows what he's doing is probably pointless, but he wants to try, as he cant sit around doing nothing and let Project D's winning streak die.

At 7PM, Keisuke heads off on a practice run in the car to test how well it works. Tomiguchi tells him not to force it, to accelerate slowly and to be careful on right turns, as he doesnt want to shift the weight to the weak side of the car. Keisuke talks to his car, begging it to not fail him, as he needs it to uphold the teams reputation. As he thunders through the course, Keisuke notices that the brake feels odd when he touches it. He decides to floor the accelerator in the upcoming right turn, to see how the car holds up. He enters the corner,going at about 80%, but een that is enough to cause him to spin out. He leaves the car, upset with the damage done to it. He lays on the hood of the car, and almost begins to cry, when he hears another car coming up the course. He realises it is the sound of a rotary, and is shocked to see Kyoko in her FD. She realises it's him, and tells him that she came to see him race, and says that she hopes he isnt angry she's there. He tells her that he's happy to see her, and that perhaps she could help him, asking if she would be alright with him borrowing her FD for the race. At the top of the mountain, Keisuke pleads with Ryosuke to allow him to drive Kyoko's FD, as he feels he must race tonight, regardless of the circumstances. V27 CH342

Information
Height: 182cm (6'0")

Weight: 63 kilos (138lb)

Likes: His own FD

Dislikes: The Skyline GT-R, Bubble-brained School Girls

Special Skills: The ABS Drift (Exact Meaning Unclear)

Vehicle: Pre-Facelift (Zenki) Mazda ɛ̃fini RX-7 Type R (FD3S)

Love Interests
Kyoko Iwase

Family
Ryosuke Takahashi

Tsugumi

Akina SpeedStars
Koichiro Iketani

Akagi RedSuns/Project D
Takumi Fujiwara

Kenta Nakamura

Project D Staff (Fumihiro, Shuichi Matsumoto, Tomiguchi)

Myogi NightKids
Takeshi Nakazato

Emperor
Kyoichi Sudo

Seiji Iwaki

Northern Saitama Alliance
Wataru Akiyama

Tsuchisaka Lan Evo Team
Aikawa

Purple Shadow
Kozo Hoshino

Others
Amada

Trivia

 * Keisuke is the second most appearing character in the manga
 * Keisuke and his brother Ryosuke were parodied in Kaido Battle 2 & 3, two touge racing games by Genki. Keisuke was parodied as Ryuji Hashimoto (Mischievous Fool in KB2, HC Top in KB3) of Akagi BlueSign.