- "If we race, and we will, I will not lose to you! That I swear!"
- ―Wataru speaking with Takumi Fujiwara[2]
Wataru Akiyama (秋山 渉 Akiyama Wataru, known as Aki in the Tokyopop dub of Second Stage and the English localisation of the Arcade Stage games)[1] is a street racer from Saitama Prefecture.
History[]
The New Eight-Six Arc[]
Wataru and Kazumi at Akagi spectating Ryosuke's battle against Kyoichi
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. He was first seen appearing at Akagi to spectate the battle between Ryosuke Takahashi and Kyoichi Sudo.
Wataru engages in an impromptu battle with Keisuke
Later on, after finding out from Keisuke Takahashi that Ryosuke was defeated by another lone racer from Akina who also used an AE86, which was Takumi Fujiwara, Wataru decided to battle against him instead. Earlier he wanted to battle Keisuke at Akagi, but Keisuke declined since it was against the RedSuns' policy to race in their home turf. Still not satisfied, Wataru engages in an impromptu battle, with Kenta spectating behind them. Keisuke and Kenta soon realizes this was no ordinary Eight-Six, as they noticed from its speed and the engine sound, from which they understood it was turbocharged. The battle ended as they both skid to a halt from a crashed car in the middle of the road. Wataru vows to battle with Keisuke later on, with Keisuke looking for the same.
Kazumi slaps Wataru
Soon Wataru meets Takumi with Itsuki's help, after knowing his sister was dating him. Later on, after Takumi shows up at Lake Akina where Itsuki with Wataru and Kazumi was waiting, Wataru checks Takumi's engine, after the former tells him that his car had been acting slow, Wataru nearly snaps out and gets angry at Takumi for thinking that Takumi was lying. On seeing Takumi getting angry for thinking Wataru was saying he's lying about his new engine being 'slow', Kazumi suddenly slaps Wataru as for everyone's surprise, as she intended to deescalate the situation.
Wataru points Takumi's car about not having a tachometer, resulting in the rev restriction to 8k rpm.
Wataru leaves the lake and heads to the Akina start line where he stops his car and thinks about the situation. Later on Takumi stops by and he explains to him that his earlier engine blew up and he got an engine swap with this one. Then when Wataru decided to take a ride in Takumi's car to find out the problem, he quickly realizes that the problem was in the tachometer of Takumi's car, which was not yet changed.
Wataru slaps Kazumi for disobeying their aunt
A few days later, Wataru calls Takumi to remind him that he will return to Gunma from Saitama to pick up his sister after hearing complaints about her from her aunt. After arriving, he slaps Kazumi for disobeying his aunt and tells her to pack her things as they will be returning to Saitama after he battle.
Wataru battles Takumi at Shomaru pass
After Takumi upgrades his car's dashboard instruments, and gets information from Bunta about the revs at which the gear should be shifted, Takumi battles with Wataru in Shomaru pass. They start the battle in a cat and mouse chase, as the course was too narrow. Exclusively in the anime, the SpeedStars and the RedSuns spectate the battle, with them explaining the differences in the two 86s and the quirks of Takumi's new N.A. engine against Wataru's turbocharged engine. As per each rounds, Takumi began to adapt to his new engine more, while Wataru observing him getting better each round, praises him for being his opponent. On the 5th round, while Wataru was on the lead, Takumi suddenly overtakes Wataru on a straight, where there was supposed to be a mudslide but after all rounds, its been mostly levelled. Takumi overtakes Wataru while going airborne for a bit while he crossed the slide. Wataru concedes defeat to Takumi and he then picks up Kazumi to go home.
Saitama and Ibaraki Arc[]
Wataru meets Takumi at Saitama.
It is later on revealed that Wataru is Nobuhiko Akiyama's cousin, as seen when he watches Project D race against the Northern Saitama Alliance in the hopes of finding a weak spot. They later on meet up with Sakamoto, a rally racer at a restaurant where Nobuhiko analyzes Takumi's driving pattern, and introduces them to a kei car, Suzuki Cappuccino, to which Sakamoto will battle against the Project D.
Wataru and Keisuke battles officially at Maze Pass
Wataru finally got his chance to battle against Keisuke in Maze Pass in a wet-weather race, this time with his modified supercharged engine. However their battle drained on for some rounds, and as Wataru was on the lead, his tires lost grip upon touching a metal gutter while he adjusted his wipers, causing him to spin out while Keisuke passes him. He was defeated by Keisuke this time officially.
Wataru seen with Kazumi's ex boyfriend
Wataru is seen later on when Kazumi's ex-boyfriend reaches out to him so that he can meet her one last time and confess his mistakes and true feelings her as she was ignoring him. Wataru takes him to a grocery store where Itsuki and Kazumi was, and tells Kazumi there's no point in running away from the past, so she has to face it. Kazumi falls for ex boyfriend, leaving Itsuki heartbroken. The next day, after Takumi finds out about Itsuki at the gas station, who was absent then, Wataru pulls up and apologizes to Takumi for her sister's choices, and tells him to ask Itsuki to find her better girls than her sister.
Takumi talks to Wataru about his 'AWD complex'
Afterwards Takumi opens up about his "four-wheel drive complex", since he was defeated in Akina by an AWD car. Wataru gives advices about overcoming it, and about the next opponents Project D will face. Afterwards, when Project D won and finished their Saitama expedition, Takumi thanks Wataru for helping him overcome his complex.
Wataru busts the Project D imposters
After Project D completes their expedition at Ibaraki, Wataru confronts the fake Project D somewhere in Saitama and helps the real Project D expose them as the frauds they are. By that time, he and Keisuke Takahashi had become close buddies, as seen by their responses.
Kanagawa Expedition[]
He later watches the final races between Project D and Sidewinder along with Nobuhiko and Sakamoto. Exclusively in Final Stage he is seen with other teams congratulating Takumi after winning his battle against Shinji Inui.
MF Ghost[]
Wataru is present in MF Ghost, where he is a commentator on the third round of the MFG.
Trivia[]
- Wataru's Tokyopop nickname "Aki" is only used in the dub of Second Stage and the Sega localisation of the Arcade Stage games, as he retains his original name in the manga.
- Wataru along with Kai Kogashiwa are the only Project D returning opponents who had raced Takumi and Keisuke beforehand. With Wataru had raced both of them although his race with Keisuke was unofficial.
Gallery[]
Miscellaneous[]
Manga[]
The New Eight-Six Arc[]
Saitama and Ibaraki Arc[]
Kanagawa Expedition Arc[]
Manga Volume covers[]
Back[]
Anime[]
Second Stage[]
Fourth Stage[]
.png "S4E13 Wataru battling against Keisuke (3rd Round).png (1.27 MB)")
-2.png "S4E13 Wataru battling against Keisuke (3rd Round)-2.png (1.15 MB)")
Fifth Stage[]
Final Stage[]
Games[]
Appearances[]
Manga[]
| Volume 11 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 111: | Absent | Chapter 116: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 112: | Introduced | Chapter 117: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 113: | Absent | Chapter 118: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 114: | Absent | Chapter 119: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 115: | Absent | Chapter 120: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 121: | Absent | |||||||||||
| Volume 12 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 122: | Appears | Chapter 128: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 123: | Appears | Chapter 129: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 124: | Appears | Chapter 130: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 125: | Appears | Chapter 131: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 126: | Appears | Chapter 132: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 127: | Appears | Chapter 133: | Appears | |||||||||
| Volume 13 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 134: | Appears | Chapter 140: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 135: | Appears | Chapter 141: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 136: | Appears | Chapter 142: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 137: | Appears | Chapter 143: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 138: | Appears | Chapter 144: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 139: | Appears | Chapter 145: | Absent | |||||||||
| Bonus: | Absent | |||||||||||
| Volume 23 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 273: | Appears | Chapter 281: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 274: | Appears | Chapter 282: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 275: | Absent | Chapter 283: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 276: | Absent | Chapter 284: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 277: | Appears | Chapter 285: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 278: | Absent | Chapter 286: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 279: | Absent | Chapter 287: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 280: | Absent | Chapter 288: | Absent | |||||||||
| Volume 24 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 289: | Appears | Chapter 297: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 290: | Appears | Chapter 298: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 291: | Appears | Chapter 299: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 292: | Appears | Chapter 300: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 293: | Appears | Chapter 301: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 294: | Absent | Chapter 302: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 295: | Absent | Chapter 303: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 296: | Absent | Chapter 304: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 305: | Appears | |||||||||||
| Volume 25 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 306: | Appears | Chapter 314: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 307: | Appears | Chapter 315: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 308: | Appears | Chapter 316: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 309: | Appears | Chapter 317: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 310: | Appears | Chapter 318: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 311: | Appears | Chapter 319: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 312: | Appears | Chapter 320: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 313: | Appears | Chapter 321: | Absent | |||||||||
| Volume 26 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 322: | Absent | Chapter 331: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 323: | Absent | Chapter 332: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 324: | Absent | Chapter 333: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 325: | Absent | Chapter 334: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 326: | Absent | Chapter 335: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 327: | Absent | Chapter 336: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 328: | Absent | Chapter 337: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 329: | Appears | Chapter 338: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 330: | Appears | Chapter 339: | Absent | |||||||||
| Volume 28 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 357: | Absent | Chapter 365: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 358: | Absent | Chapter 366: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 359: | Absent | Chapter 367: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 360: | Absent | Chapter 368: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 361: | Absent | Chapter 369: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 362: | Absent | Chapter 370: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 363: | Absent | Chapter 371: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 364: | Absent | Chapter 372: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 373: | Absent | |||||||||||
| Volume 32 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 422: | Absent | Chapter 431: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 423: | Absent | Chapter 432: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 424: | Absent | Chapter 433: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 425: | Absent | Chapter 434: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 426: | Absent | Chapter 435: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 427: | Absent | Chapter 436: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 428: | Absent | Chapter 437: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 429: | Absent | Chapter 438: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 430: | Absent | Chapter 439: | Absent | |||||||||
| Volume 43 | ||||||||||||
| Chapter 612: | Absent | Chapter 621: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 613: | Absent | Chapter 622: | Appears | |||||||||
| Chapter 614: | Absent | Chapter 623: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 615: | Absent | Chapter 624: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 616: | Absent | Chapter 625: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 617: | Absent | Chapter 626: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 618: | Absent | Chapter 627: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 619: | Absent | Chapter 628: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 620: | Absent | Chapter 629: | Absent | |||||||||
| Chapter 630: | Absent | |||||||||||
Anime[]
| Second Stage | ||||||||||||
| Act 1: | Absent | Act 7: | Introduced | |||||||||
| Act 2: | Absent | Act 8: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 3: | Absent | Act 9: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 4: | Absent | Act 10: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 5: | Absent | Act 11: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 6: | Absent | Act 12: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 13: | Appears | |||||||||||
| Fourth Stage | ||||||||||||
| Act 1: | Absent | Act 13: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 2: | Absent | Act 14: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 3: | Absent | Act 15: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 4: | Absent | Act 16: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 5: | Absent | Act 17: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 6: | Absent | Act 18: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 7: | Absent | Act 19: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 8: | Absent | Act 20: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 9: | Appears | Act 21: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 10: | Appears | Act 22: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 11: | Appears | Act 23: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 12: | Appears | Act 24: | Absent | |||||||||
| Fifth Stage | ||||||||||||
| Act 1: | Appears | Act 8: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 2: | Absent | Act 9: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 3: | Absent | Act 10: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 4: | Absent | Act 11: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 5: | Absent | Act 12: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 6: | Absent | Act 13: | Appears | |||||||||
| Act 7: | Absent | Act 14: | Absent | |||||||||
| Final Stage | ||||||||||||
| Act 1: | Absent | Act 3: | Absent | |||||||||
| Act 2: | Absent | Act 4: | Appears | |||||||||
Games[]
| Initial D Games | ||||||||||||
| Gaiden: | Absent | Street Stage: | Appears | |||||||||
| Fastest Public Road Legend: | Absent | Arcade Stage 4: | Appears | |||||||||
| Initial D: | Absent | Extreme Stage: | Appears | |||||||||
| Arcade Stage: | Introduced | Arcade Stage 5: | Appears | |||||||||
| Another Stage: | Absent | Arcade Stage 6 AA: | Appears | |||||||||
| Arcade Stage Ver. 2: | Appears | Arcade Stage 7 AAX: | Appears | |||||||||
| Special Stage: | Appears | Arcade Stage 8 Infinity: | Appears | |||||||||
| Mountain Vengeance: | Absent | Perfect Shift Online: | Absent | |||||||||
| Arcade Stage Ver. 3: | Appears | Arcade Stage Zero: | Appears | |||||||||
| The Arcade: | Appears | |||||||||||
[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wataru's nickname is unused in the manga
- ↑ Volume 12 - Chapter 129