Ryosuke Takahashi

Ryosuke Takahashi (高橋 涼介, Takahashi Ryōsuke; known as Ry in the Tokyopop version) is one of the most skilled drivers in the series (he is the Red Suns' fastest member as well as their leader); he and his younger brother Keisuke (the Takahashi Brothers, also known as the Rotary Brothers because they both drive RX-7's, albeit different generations of the vehicle) have been featured in racing magazines and are regarded highly by other drivers. Ryosuke drives a second generation 1990 Mazda Savanna RX-7 Infini III (FC3S) and was previously undefeated until he met Takumi Fujiwara. Ryosuke is very serious about racing; he pours over technical data just like any professional driver and he is one of the few drivers with skills as a mechanic to match those he possesses as a driver. He can usually be found in his room going over data on his laptop. He is known to be able to tell what kind of modifications have been made to a car just by hearing it, and what a driver is capable of just by watching the car drift. Ryosuke's fame is so wide spread throughout Japan that he has been given the moniker, "Akagi's White Comet". He is also referred to by "Akagi's Lone White Comet", possibly in reference to his inherent weariness towards females.

His only rival would be Kyoichi Sudo. They argued about racing theories when Ryosuke ended Kyoichi's winning streak a year before the series' start. Currently, he is enrolled in college studying medicine, and planning to become a doctor to work at his father's clinic. But before retiring from street racing, and with only one year of racing left, he estimates, and assembles a new team (named Project D) aimed at capturing all of the records in Japan. In Fourth Stage, he is a coach for Project D while his brother Keisuke races in his place.

A rift in Ryosuke's past became apparent in Volume 36, involving another racer only known as 'Shinigami'. An altercation between the two in medical school led to another student named Kaori (also another medical student and Shinigami's fiancee) taking her life. Shinigami retreated from the racing scene for years, becoming a recluse, before making an abrupt return in Volume 39 against Spiral Zero's Leader, Ikeda. It appears that Ryosuke races the 'Shinigami' in Volume 41.

Ryosuke is modeled after the "Drift King" Keiichi Tsuchiya's mentor, retired race car driver Takahashi Kunimitsu.

Ryosuke Takahashi had a dark blue hairstyle in the First and Fourth stages of Initial D, but it inexplicably changed to a light brown hairstyle in the Second Stage, then to dark brown in the Third Stage movie. It changes to black in his appearances in Fifth and Final Stage.

After the disbanding of Project D at the end of Final Stage, he continues to go on a silent spectator at street races, saying that he would eventually pick out new gifted racers.

Likes: His beloved FC.

Dislikes: Stupid big-breasted women. His lifework is creating a theory on ultimate speed on public roads. His one weakness is his affection for a female cousin.

Special skills: None in particular, since he specializes at everything!!

Trivia

 * His name was mentioned in MF Ghost, new manga created by Shigeno.