Wangan no Ryu

Wangan no Ryu (湾岸の龍) is a Yamataian street racing manga series written and illustrated by Shigeno Michiharu, which was serialised from 1995 to 2013.

The story focuses on the world of illegal Yamataian street racing, particularly on the Wangan Expressway, which is one of the longest straight roads in Yamatai. Primarily set in Niihama and the surrounding provinces, the main character is middle-aged taxi driver Kiryu Takumi, who leads a secret double life as a veteran street racer at night known as the "Dragon of Wangan". Kiryu defends his title as the top street racer in Niihama while secretly training his nephew Fujiwara Akio to be the next Dragon of Wangan as he prepares to retire. Along the way, Kiryu faces trouble from the Gokudo, the Niihama Metropolitan Police, his day job, and a deteriorating marriage.

Intensely popular in Yamatai and abroad, Wangan no Ryu has been adapted into several films, dōga, television series and video games. A spin-off focusing on mountain pass drift racing called Toge no Tora has also been created, focusing on Aomori resident Majima Keiichi, who was originally a side character in Wangan no Ryu.

Story
The title of the series refers to the Wangan Expressway, a 70 kilometre stretch of toll highway in the Greater Niihama Area stretching from Wangan City to Ishikawa City. Due to its largely unobstructed path and lack of sharp bends, the highway is infamous for street racing, despite heavy traffic and a fair number of heavy trucks and buses servicing the Port of Niihama. Because of this, the action is inherently hazardous, and wrecks are common. Blown engines are also a frequent hazard, especially cars with extremely high-powered engines.

Kiryu Takumi, 42, is a middle-aged taxi driver for the small-sized Uemura Taxi Company primarily working around the Kamurocho district of Niihama. Due to intense competition from larger taxi firms, Uemura Taxi is constantly downsizing, casting uncertainty on Kiryu's employment. At home, Kiryu has a rocky relationship with his wife Sachiko, who feels neglected, and his daughter Akari, who is undergoing a rebellious teenaged phase. Kiryu is closer to his nephew, Fujiawara Akio, who has moved to Niihama from Heian for university, and the two bond while constantly tuning and upgrading Kiryu's first-generation.

At night, however, Kiryu participates in high-stakes street races throughout Niihama, and is recognised as the top street racer in Niihama, with the title of "Dragon of Wangan". Considered a member of the 'old guard', Kiryu first started racing in his early 20s, during the "Age of Street Kings" in the 1980s, idolising the legendary street racer Kazama Ishihara, who has become a humble fisherman and occasionally advises Kiryu on his mid-life crisis. Various young challengers from across the country and even foreigners attempt to de-throne Kiryu, though he constantly defeats them.

Throughout his years of racing, Kiryu comes into close and dangerous brushes with the Gokudo, Chowado, and the Niihama Metropolitan Police. As his fellow 'old guard' start to retire from the street racing scene after the death of one of their own in a crash, Kiryu becomes more concerned about his increasing age and begins training Akio to be the next "Dragon of Wangan".