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-bosozoku gang member, 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.
Unlike his older brother's calm demeanor, Keisuke is a hot-headed and passionate individual known for driving with his emotions and his dislike for losing. His pride was shattered when he was passed by a mysterious AE86 driven by Takumi Fujiwara during a practice run on Mount Akina. Unwilling to accept this loss, he returns to Akina to encounter the Eight Six again. In this second race, Keisuke is defeated once again. Since these defeats, Keisuke has consecrated himself towards improving his driving skills, one day hoping to face off against Takumi again.
Project D arc[]
Ryosuke later disbands the RedSuns in favor of Project D, an elite racing team intent on challenging street racing teams around Japan. Keisuke joins the team as a driver alongside his rival Takumi. Under Ryosuke’s mentorship, he gains more experience as a racer, learning to drive with control and precision instead of emotion. Following Project D’s final race with Kanagawa’s Sidewinder team, he pursues his goal as a professional driver, taking his Project D mechanic Tomiguchi with him.
Keisuke and Sakai enter a corner together, forcing them into a lower-speed, low-gear scenario. Keisuke is able to overtake due to the Integra struggling to put down power.
Just like him, she too drives an FD3S. She fell in love with Keisuke at first sight and followed him constantly on his battles. When Keisuke's FD broke down, she offered him to borrow hers in his next battle. In the end, while he admitted that he likes her, Keisuke turned her down in order to concentrate on his goal.
He is his older brother. After being influenced by his racing skills, he decided to follow his footsteps and reason to become a professional racer. He co-founded the Akagi RedSuns and also helped his brother create Project D. Ryosuke would often coach him and prep talk in his battles.
During an impromptu battle in Takumi's delivery run, he was outpaced by him when he performed inertia drift. He lost again in their second battle became obsessed with defeating him. Because of that, he doesn't want him to lose to anyone but him and his brother. However, he began to gain profound respect for him and convinced him to join Project D before he can rematch him and turn pro. He considers him a friendly rival.
He is idolized by him and would do anything to prove himself to him. Just like Keisuke, he was part of the Akagi RedSuns (until the creation of Project D).
After both were unable to defeat Takumi in their battles with him, Nakazato challenges Keisuke in a rainy battle in Myogi in an uphill race. Keisuke won the battle leading Nakazato to argue believing he won the race by luck. Keisuke then corrects him that he used his skills to win the race fair and square.
He was his opponent prior to Ryosuke's battle against Kyoichi. The battle was decided by hillclimb. Keisuke won that battle when he overtook Seiji in the S sections.
After his brother's victory against Sudo, he challenged him next but declined because it was against the RedSuns' policy to not race on their own turf. Wataru nonetheless shows him off which nearly caused an accident. They accepted each other's challenge to race again in which they eventually did during Project D's Saitama expedition. He won against him after slipping out. They eventually became friends after their battle. Keisuke later requested help from Wataru to expose imposter Project D's schemes.
Trivia[]
Keisuke's voice actor in the New Initial D the Movie trilogy, Yuichi Nakamura, previously voiced Rin Hojo in the main anime.