Character Index
open/close all folders
In General
- Changing of the Guard: The teams in Import Tuner Challenge are, for the most part, brand new, with some of their members having previously raced under different banners. Justified, as the PHANTOM NINE's destructive influence is implied to have wiped the slate clean on the Tokyo Expressway, whilst others retired more naturally.
- Feuding Families: In a very loose and platonic sense. The new Expressway teams, unlike their older peers, just cannot get along with one another.
- The Generation Gap: Newcomers to the Tokyo Expressway will often voice their disapproval of older drivers, and insist on being "new" and "different". Further evidence can be found in some teams' names as well. To put it into perspective, it's strongly implied that when Jintei first got his driver's license, most of these drivers weren't even in school. Some weren't even born.
C1 Loop
Changing Stage
Changing Stage's logo
Changing Stage are an amateur team, made up of the editing and writing staff of the eponymous car magazine. They don't put too much focus on winning, and instead race for their own enjoyment.- The Bus Came Back: "Pink Lily" Kazunari Yuri formerly belonged to True Ride, who last appeared in Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3, before reappering as a member of Changing Stage.
Speed Planet
Speed Planet's logo
Made up of students enrolled in a private Tokyo university, Speed Planet are a young, up-and-coming team.- Kill and Replace: Speed Planet reportedly beat another university's team to take its' spot on the C1 Loop. It's implied, but never confirmed, that they were responsible for the break up of Galaxy Racers, who'd fit the description.
M_O_E_
M_O_E_'s logo
M_O_E_ are three akiba-kei explanation boys who bonded over a shared love of cars and racing videogames, and decided to launch a racing team after meeting at a maid café.- Fun with Acronyms: The team's name is composed by the initials of the members' surnames.To be more specific...
- I Know Mortal Kombat: Downplayed: the trio used driving simulators to familiarize themselves with the C1 Loop. Also brutally Subverted, since they're one of the first teams the player races against and can be beaten with ease.
- My Nayme Is: Yes, it's spelled "M-underscore-O-underscore-E-underscore".
- Younger Than They Look: A peculiar twist on the trope, as we never see or learn how old M_O_E_'s members are, but in spite of using decades-old slang, they're described to be mere boys, most likely in their early twenties.
Fresh Market
Fresh Market's logo
Formed by truck drivers who deliver fresh fish from the harbour to the market for a living, Fresh Market members use their knowledge and experience in delivery to stand out in Expressway races.- The Pig-Pen: The smell of the fish they regularly deliver has seeped beyond their bodies and into the upholstery of their cars.
Cat X Cat
Cat X Cat's logo
With the big changes sweeping the Tokyo Expressway after Jintei disappeared and the PHANTOM NINE swept through, realization dawned on Mamiko Takaya. As such, she invited a college junior with no experience to join her in the world of highway battles, and Cat X Cat was born.For tropes about "Black Cat" Mamiko Takaya when she was Glamorous Mami, see her entry here.
- Intergenerational Friendship: Downplayed, as there's only a decade tops between the two, but despite their short time as a team, it's clear Black Cat and White Cat are very good friends.
Phase X
Phase X's logo
A relatively new team, made up entirely of teenagers. Energetic, determined, and absolutely loyal to one another, Phase X have two big issues to overcome: their lack of money, and their lack of experience. Desire
Desire's logo
A trio of eleghant goths who manage to easily stand out, even amongst the Expressway's crowds, Desire have quite the following behind them. However, their fame tends to be derived from looks over their techinque and speed.- Dude Looks Like a Lady: "Wailing Asterion" Honami Fukuto, to the point that people think Desire is an all-female team.
- Gender-Blender Name: Since the game doesn't hide that atleast one member of Desire is actually a guy, a Westerner's suspicion will usually fall "Heretical Canopus" Jun Moriashi. And they'd be wrong.
Family Business
Family Business' logo
Shintaro Hirohata thought he was going to enjoy his retirement. After a lifetime of work, he was going to spend time with his sons, his daughter-in-law, and his beloved grandkids. What he found, instead, was a family on the verge of collapse. Pulling up his sleeves, he contacted some old acquaintances from his past, acquired cars for his entire family, and brought his Fairlady S30, companion of thirty years, out of retirement to race again.That's the story of how Family Business was born. The Hirohata family makes up the team, with Shintaro calling the shots. His hope is that through this experience, they'll all learn important lessons and patch things up with one another: so far, it seems to be working.
- Badass Family: Family Business' leader, Shintaro Hirohata, is the family patriarch, whilst the other members are his two sons, his daughter-in-law, and his grandkids. They're all Badass Drivers of varying shades, far more competent in mechanics and race theory than you'd expect them to be.
- Retired Badass: "The Godfather" Shintaro Hirohata used to be a test driver for Nissan before retiring. He worked with the company atleast since the Fairlady first rolled off the assembly line, and focused on pushing the cars to their very limit. In spite of age having taken a toll on him and his beloved S30, he can still be a fearsome opponent.
- Shout-Out:
- Their team logo utilizes the same font as The Godfather's. Moreso, the figure featured on the logo, likely Shintaro himself, bears a very strong resemblance with Don Corleone from the first film's poster.
- Related to the above, Shintaro's street name is straight-up "The Godfather", if the Shout-Out wasn't clear enough already.
Cool Energy
Cool Energy's logo
IT executives with offices across Roppongi make up the ranks of Cool Energy, using their wealth to tune up their cars and achieve success in spite of their middling skill level. Because of that, they're generally looked down upon by older drivers, who think of them as "buying" their success. Tri Edge
Tri Edge's logo
Tri Edge are a Lancer Evo IX team who look up to Top Level and with whom they share two things: a burning rivalrly with a team of Impreza drivers — in their case, the Pleiades — and similar ambitions. The difference between the teams, however, is night and day, with none of Tri Edge's members having a background in rallying or racing of any kind. As such, they fail to bring out the full potential of their cars. The Pleiades
The Pleiades' logo
Contrasting with Tri Edge, their rivals, The Pleiades are an all-Impreza team whose members have varying levels of off-roading experience. Known for their wild temperament, they're also at odds with Another Star, the veteran all-Impreza team, whom they deem to be "too classy". 2 Limit
2Limit's logo
- Never cut corners, no matter what.
Blood Tears
Blood Tears' logo
Whilst famous teams were being defeated and dissolved one after the other due to the PHANTOM NINE, Blood Tears managed to fly under the radar and thrive, becoming one of the strongest teams of the C1 Loop in the process. They're all highly skilled with well-tuned cars, but because of their willingness to use any means necessary to win races, they're locked in a never-ending feud with Freedom Light. Freedom Light
Freedom Light's logo
Although they've been around for a short time, no one can deny that Freedom Light left their impact upon the Metropolitan Expressway. Known and appreciated for their blinding speed and gentlemanly manners when racing, they managed to survive during the troubled period where the PHANTOM NINE established themselves on top of Tokyo, and established themselves as one of the strongest teams of the C1 Loop. They have a heated rivalry with Blood Tears, as Freedom Light members believe them to be extremely dangerous in their driving. Rolling Gals
Rolling Gals' logo
"What kind of woman thinks she can be a racer?!"That kind of question, more of an insult than anything, was the spark that lead to the creation of the Rolling Gals. Originally competing in time trials at local circuits, this all-female, all-AE86 team recently moved to highway racing as a reaction to other drivers doubting their skills. There clearly is more than a passing resemblance to the more famous Rolling Guy, but the relation between the two teams is currently unknown.
- Distaff Counterpart: To Rolling Guy, down to their logos. Where they differ is that Rolling Guy members are in a constant state of Perpetual Poverty, whereas the Rolling Gals all have good-paying jobs. Moreso, Rolling Guy utilizes the singular form of the word; Rolling Gals utilize the plural one.
- You Are Number 6: Just like their Distaff Counterparts, The Rolling Gals use the singular form of the team's name alongside a number between #1 and #5 as their respective street name. The team leader is "Rolling Gal #1", the second-in-command is "Rolling Gal #2", and so on.
Shibuya
Moon Tribe
Moon Tribe's logo
Moon Tribe are a Shibuya-based team, formed by people living in the neighborhood. Very popular amongst girls due to their good looks, they focus on the beauty and appearance of their cars and racing, believing them to be sufficient to carry them to victory. Burnism
Burnism's logo
Burnism was formed out of a shared passion for racing: loud, hard rock music can be heard blaring from the stereos of team members, who are all musicians by trade. They tend to argue and bicker, but can more than hold their own in battles. It's claimed that they get thrice as competitive and enthusiastic when facing other teams, and that they hold strong animosity towards Moon Tribe. The Bone
The Bone's logo
There was a time when Tetsu Kobigawa was a lone runner on the Metropolitan Expressway. A popular actor, he slowly met fellow petrolheads in the television industry until they slowly begun to gather members for a team through their work. That was how The Bone was born, largely financed out of Kobigawa's pockets. They're the fastest team out of Shibuya.New Belt Line
Racing Storm
Racing Storm's logo
Racing Storm are a team that grew massive through fusions and mergers. The flipside of this growth is a next-to-nonexistant cohesion, with the team currently split in two factions: one follows team leader "Red Heat Haze" Takeaki Raika and approaches street racing with sobriety and seriousness, whilst the other follows second-in-command "Tactical Oasis" Toru Mochizuki and is a lot more easy-going, wanting to have fun above winning. The only thing that has held the team together is their collective passion for cars and racing. Strong Formation
Strong Formation's logo
One of the largest teams through-out Tokyo with eleven members, those belonging to Strong Formation are all involved in the world of rugby. They use highway battles to study, develop, and improve strategies to take directly to the field, and are notorious for swarming the road and overwhelming individual drivers through sheer numbers. Road Concerto
Road Concerto's logo
Classical music is at the heart of Road Concerto, a team of orchestra members utilizing their wealth to tune luxury sedans. Rumors hint of an "unwritten rule" between team members to not interfere in each other's affairs: as such, they're not seen interacting much, but they're as close-knit as a true family. Second Chance
Second Chance's logo
A team made up of those who failed atleast once in life, Second Chance members see street racing as their road to earn their redemption and start again where they last failed: as such, they take each and every battle like it's life or death. A.S.F.
A.S.F.'s logo
Official team of the epynonymous tuning shop, A.S.F. have top-notch machines, but lack the drivers to truly bring their full potential out. Their founder and leader, Kenji Akibara, used to be the leader of Galaxy Racers, only for his team to be defeated by Speed Planet and disband. Undeterred, he enrolled his shop's employees and former teammates in his quest for payback.- Fun with Acronyms: As keen-eyed readers might be able to notice by looking at their logo, A.S.F. stands for "Akiba Speed Factory".
Far Away
Far Away's logo
Far Away's members are all middle-aged street racing veterans from years gone. Preferring cars such as the R32 Skyline and the A70 Supra, they're eager to show to the new generation that they still have their old chops and possibly teach them a few lessons on the way. Don't call them "old", though, they really don't like that. Danji
Danji's logo
Danji is a Kyushu-based team currently on expedition to Tokyo to conquer the Metropolitan Highway and possibly find girlfriends. All members are "big men" who intimidate other racers by sheer presence, but in reality, they're extremely kind-hearted. Red Pollution
Red Pollution's logo
A team composed exclusively of gaijin, Red Pollution are feared and detested across Tokyo. Their power-oriented cars and extremely dangerous driving are akin to a calling card for them. In spite of that, a Red Pollution member might not even be aware of who his team mates are: the team reunites and runs together once, maybe twice a year, and members learn of each other's identity only when they see the team's stickers on their cars. Oboro
Oboro's logo
A three-driver team, Oboro are the Tokyo Expressway's quiet shadow. Ready to battle any opponent before anyone realizes they're on the scene, their style of driving is described as "dreamy and hazy".- Meaningful Name: The Japanese word "Oboro" can be described as "hazy, cloudy", but also "dream-like". It not only fits the team's motus operandi, but also their driving style.
Secret Code
Secret Code's logo
Secret Code members are spies and foreign secret service agents from all over the world. We are not joking. Used to actual, warzone combat, they are completely undeterred by the world of highway racing. They apparently used to meet across Tokyo to exchange informations on behalf of their employers, only to be pulled into the world of street racing. Further rumors hint that their cars are equipped with various gadgets and trinkets for their espionage activities, and that they're worried they're attracting too much attention nowadays.No, we are still not joking about any of this.
Be Legend
Be Legend's logo
Nothing lasts forever. The sun sets, the seasons pass, and myths fade to legend. Those who used to be at the very top of Tokyo's street racing scene all left, one after the other, for one reason or another. Maybe they were getting older. Or maybe they could not hang with the new generation. Either way, the era of "Devils and Saints" had come to an end.But not for long. Away from the streets, those legends ended up facing new problems that the world threw at them. Problems that they couldn't just run away from. They needed help, and Yuji Kakioka came to the rescue. That's how Be Legend was born, a team formed by former members of the Thirteen Devils and the Zodiac. By inspiring themselves to overcome their issues and return to the Expressway, the members of Be Legend quickly rose on top of the other teams. Although they might be far from the glory of their heydays, they are still the men and women who became legends in their own right on these streets, and they can still prove it.
- How the Mighty Have Fallen: They used to make part of the late "Zodiacs" (while one of the members used to be with the dreaded "13 Devils") prior their collapse. Now in the events of Import Tuner Challenge, they're merely regular rivals
- Weak, but Skilled: Zigzagged. Aside from using high-powered cars and putting up a good fight during the races, their members' skills aren't prevalent as they used to be due to their age handicap.
Juicy Heaven
Juicy Heaven's logo
Juicy Heaven are an all-women team known for their ability and their "appeal" to male drivers. Always causing a scene whenever a member appears at a PA, they tend to focus on the appearance of their cars, but do not ignore other essential elements. Don't take them lightly: Juicy Heaven members are known to give dirty drivers a bad time if they see them on the road near them. Aquarium
Aquarium's logo
Aquarium was originally conceived as a blind date "fling" meant to help single men find their significant half. Over time, however, they've become serious contenders on the New Belt Line. The team's cardinal rule is that those who marry are forced to resign: however, between a genuine desire to settle down and a burning wish to become Tokyo's fastest, members find themselves between a rock and a hard place.Shinjuku
Nayuta
Nayuta's logo
Everything revolves around numbers for Nayuta. No matter what the number might indicate, one member of the team needs to have "the most" of it. Top speed, torque, weight, number of doors... any number. Their belief in number is so strong, team members believe that they alone are more than enough to rise above other teams. Asian Ages
Asian Ages' logo
Years ago, Thunder Dragoon were one of the fastest, most respected teams on the Wangan Line. Lead by "Black Dragon" Hei Long, the all-Viper team were always contenders for becoming Tokyo's fastest. That is, until one fateful day when they were challenged by the PHANTOM NINE.They were humiliated. Long lost, in one fell swoop, his team and his car by the hand of Snake Eyes. Now, all he has on his mind is revenge. That is the driving reason why he restarted from zero and created Asian Ages, a team featuring members from all across the continent — China, Korea, India, and others — and with a focus on driving so aggressive they're unfavorably compared to Red Pollution. Studying other teams, copying them, always improving, Hei Long will not be satisfied until he takes from Snake Eyes what he took from him.
Urban Stars
Urban Stars' logo
- Tuning is about money.
