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[Initial D World]

There are many subtle messages the author wants to convey throughout Initial D. One of them being kindness. Initial D as an anime doesn't technically have any "villain" characters. Shingo is probably closest to that definition. And of course later on in the series we have Shinigami, but we'll save that for another post.

Shingo is a reckless character that will use dirty tricks or whatever he has to do to win. To lure the Akina's 86 to come out to race with him, he pushed Itsuki and his 85 off the road. As a result, Itsuki was hospitalized. Of course, that worked. Takumi was enraged by the incident and decided to race Shingo in the so-called Gumtape Deathmatch. These scenes were supposed to invoke anger in the viewers and gets everyone's blood boiling. I am sure I wasn't the only one who was very angry at Shingo.

So it was such an uplifting moment to see Shingo's plan to crash with the 86 fails. And that's why it was touching to see Iketani and Kenji to offer Shingo a ride to the hospital. Just when everyone was cheering in front of the TV that the villain got what he deserve, we are being shown the act of kindness. It was killing him with kindness. Shingo realized what he did was wrong and the author showed us that violence doesn't solve anything. Forgiveness and mercifulness, on the other hand, are stronger emotions than hatred.

What have you learned from Initial D all these years? Share your stories with us. (smile)

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» Initial D First Stage ACT.15「拓海·怒涛の激走!」"Takumi's Fury!"

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[Nomake Wan]

The internet has ruined me. I can't see that last scene without picturing a Lancia Stratos rocking up anymore...

[shadow55419]

From Itsuki one learns to not give up on a dream, and that giving up a losing battle is sometimes not what you want but the smart thing to do.