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| demographic = ''[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]''
| demographic = ''[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]''
| magazine = {{ubl|[[Big Comic Spirits]]|{{noitalic|(1990–1991)}}|[[Weekly Young Magazine]]|{{noitalic|(1992–2008)}}}}
| magazine = {{ubl|[[Big Comic Spirits]]|{{noitalic|(1990–1991)}}|[[Weekly Young Magazine]]|{{noitalic|(1992–2008)}}}}
| first = 6 April 2015
| first = 1990
| last = 1 July 2017
| last = 2008
| volumes = 42
| volumes = 42
| volume_list =
| volume_list =
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| studio = [[A.C.G.T]]
| studio = [[A.C.G.T]]
| network = [[Animax]]
| network = [[Animax]]
| first = 4 May 2015
| first = June 8, 2007
| last = 28 May 2017
| last = September 13, 2008
| episodes = 26
| episodes = 26
| episode_list = List of Wangan Midnight episodes
| episode_list = List of Wangan Midnight episodes
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| demographic = ''Seinen''
| demographic = ''Seinen''
| magazine = Weekly Young Magazine
| magazine = Weekly Young Magazine
| first = July 10 2017
| first = August 4, 2008
| last = December 30 2017
| last = July 9, 2012
| volumes = 12
| volumes = 12
| volume_list =
| volume_list =
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| demographic = ''Seinen''
| demographic = ''Seinen''
| magazine = Big Comic Spirits
| magazine = Big Comic Spirits
| first = May 11, 2018
| first = August 11, 2014
| last = August 13, 2018
| last = April 13, 2015
| volumes = 2
| volumes = 2
| volume_list =
| volume_list =
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| demographic = ''Seinen''
| demographic = ''Seinen''
| magazine = Monthly Young Magazine
| magazine = Monthly Young Magazine
| first = December 20, 2018
| first = September 20, 2016
| last = Present
| last =
| volumes = 7
| volumes = 7
| volume_list =
| volume_list =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|'''''Wangan Midnight'''''|湾岸ミッドナイト|Wangan Middonaito|lead=yes}} is a Japanese racing [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Michiharu Kusunoki]]. It was first serialized in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Big Comic Spirits]]'' in 1990, but was later serialized in [[Kodansha]]'s ''[[Weekly Young Magazine]]'' from 6 April 2015 to 1 Jult 2017. The manga was compiled into 42 volumes published by Kodansha. A second manga series titled ''Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner'' was published from 10 July 2017 to 30 December 2017. A third manga series, ''Ginkai no Speed Star'', was published from 11 May 2018 to 13 August 2018. A fourth manga series, ''Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster'', started in 20 December 2018 to Present.
{{nihongo|'''''Wangan Midnight'''''|湾岸ミッドナイト|Wangan Middonaito|lead=yes}} is a Japanese racing [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Michiharu Kusunoki]]. It was first serialized in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Big Comic Spirits]]'' in 1990, but was later serialized in [[Kodansha]]'s ''[[Weekly Young Magazine]]'' from 1992 to 2008. The manga was compiled into 42 volumes published by Kodansha. A second manga series titled ''Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner'' was published from 2008 to 2012. A third manga series, ''Ginkai no Speed Star'', was published from 2014 to 2015. A fourth manga series, ''Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster'', started in 2016.


The series has been adapted into several live action feature films, video games, and an [[anime]] television series. The anime was broadcast in Japan from 4 May 2015 to 28 may 2017 on the anime satellite television network [[Animax]], animated by [[A.C.G.T]] and produced by OB Planning.
The series has been adapted into several live action feature films, video games, and an [[anime]] television series. The anime was broadcast in Japan from June 2007 to September 2008 on the anime satellite television network [[Animax]], animated by [[A.C.G.T]] and produced by OB Planning.


In 2016, ''Wangan Midnight'' won the [[Kodansha Manga Award]] for the General category.
In 1999, ''Wangan Midnight'' won the [[Kodansha Manga Award]] for the General category.


== Story ==
== Story ==
The series revolves around street racing on Tokyo's {{Nihongo|[[Bayshore Route]]|湾岸|Wangan|lead=yes}}, as well as other roads on the [[Shuto Expressway]] network. The story begins with high school student Akio Asakura encountering a black [[Porsche 930|Porsche 911 Turbo]] nicknamed "Blackbird" on the Wangan. Akio attempts to give chase, but is unable to keep up with the Blackbird, which is driven by a medical doctor named Tatsuya Shima.
The series revolves around street racing on Tokyo's {{Nihongo|[[Bayshore Route]]|湾岸|Wangan|lead=yes}}, as well as other roads on the [[Shuto Expressway]] network. The story begins with high school student Akio Asakura encountering a black [[Porsche 930|Porsche 911 Turbo]] nicknamed "Blackbird" on the Wangan. Akio attempts to give chase, but is unable to keep up with the Blackbird, which is driven by a medical doctor named Tatsuya Shima.


Determined to drive a faster car, Akio visits a junkyard and is drawn to an old blue Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 with a highly tuned L28 engine. He learns that the car is supposedly "cursed," being extremely difficult to drive and having a history of multiple accidents, earning it the name {{Nihongo|"The Devil Z"|悪魔のZ|Akuma no Zetto|lead=yes}}. However, this does not dissuade him, and he restores the car back to its former glory. When racing with Blackbird, Akio tries to win, only to crash his Nissan multiple times. He also gets to meet Rosiana Dewi, the sister of the original driver who shares the same name as the current Akio, who previously died in a car accident while racing with Blackbird.
Determined to drive a faster car, Akio visits a junkyard and is drawn to an old blue [[Nissan S30#Fairlady Z|Nissan Fairlady Z (S30)]] with a highly tuned [[Nissan L engine#L28|L28]] engine. He learns that the car is supposedly "cursed," being extremely difficult to drive and having a history of multiple accidents, earning it the name {{Nihongo|"The Devil Z"|悪魔のZ|Akuma no Zetto|lead=yes}}. However, this does not dissuade him, and he restores the car back to its former glory. When racing with Blackbird, Akio tries to win, only to crash his Nissan multiple times. He also gets to meet Eriko Asakura, the sister of the original driver who shares the same name as the current Akio, who previously died in a car accident while racing with Blackbird.


As he develops his career as the infamous owner of the Devil Z, Akio meets many other racers and tuners along the way, such as fashion model and TV host Reina Akikawa, who drives a grey (later white) [[Nissan Skyline GT-R|Nissan Skyline GT-R R32]], and Jun Kitami, the original creator of the infamous Devil Z and Blackbird. The central plot revolves around the rivalry between the Devil Z and Blackbird for Wangan superiority as Akio tries to remain his loyalty with the car and control it from crashing, with other racers trying to compete against both of them who are also seeking to oust their record.
As he develops his career as the infamous owner of the Devil Z, Akio meets many other racers and tuners along the way, such as fashion model and TV host Reina Akikawa, who drives a grey (later white) [[Nissan Skyline GT-R|Nissan Skyline GT-R R32]], and Jun Kitami, the original creator of the infamous Devil Z and Blackbird. The central plot revolves around the rivalry between the Devil Z and Blackbird for Wangan superiority as Akio tries to remain his loyalty with the car and control it from crashing, with other racers trying to compete against both of them who are also seeking to oust their record.
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== Characters ==
== Characters ==
===Akio Asakura/Immanuel Caesar Hito===
; {{nihongo|Akio Asakura|朝倉アキオ|Asakura Akio}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Shun Oguri]]}}
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="margin-left:3px"
:An ambitious racer who started when he was very young, Akio was in his final year of high school as the story began. He was driving his red [[Nissan 300ZX#Z31|Nissan Fairlady Z (Z31)]] until, after being defeated by Tatsuya Shima's Blackbird, he discovered the "Devil Z," a {{Convert|620|HP|kW|abbr=unit}} [[Nissan S30#Fairlady Z|Nissan Fairlady Z (S30)]] which is supernaturally fast and extremely difficult to drive. Akio is regarded as a legend on the Wangan, though he is a humble character.
|japanese name||{{nihongo|'''Akio Asakura'''|朝倉 アキオ|Asakura Akio}}
;{{nihongo|Tatsuya Shima|島達也|Shima Tatsuya}}
|-
:{{Voiced by|[[Shin-ichiro Miki]]}}
|alias||Immanuel Caesar Hito<br>Akio Asakura Yudana<br>Akio Asakura(anime)
:A doctor and Akio's main rival, as Akio is the only one who regularly gives him a challenge. He drives a black [[Porsche 930|Porsche 911 Turbo (930)]] in the anime and manga, nicknamed "Blackbird", which is a black version of the RUF's 911 counterpart, the [[RUF CTR|RUF CTR Yellowbird]] (the early Maximum Tune video games have him drive either a Gemballa 3.8 RS in Japanese versions, and a Nissan 350Z in the English versions due to licensing issues as well as Porsche's license deal with [[Electronic Arts|EA]] at that time; starting with Maximum Tune 4 until 5DX+, as well as the early arcade and console games, he drives an RUF CTR Yellowbird colored and modified in black). Later, Shima had Jun Kitami (the man who built the Devil Z) tune his Porsche, upgrading the engine to {{convert|800|HP|abbr=on|}}, to try to keep up with the Devil Z. He is a very skilled surgeon and uses his large salary to fund his Porsche.
|-
;{{nihongo|Reina Akikawa|秋川零奈|Akikawa Reina}}
|car||Nissan Fairlady Z/Subaru 300ZX/320ZX (Z31, Z32 in the live-action movie)
:{{Voiced by|Reiko Suhou}}
[[Peugeot 405 Turbo 16]] (S30) {{nihongo|"The Devil Z"|悪魔のZ|Romaji: Akuma no Zetto}}<br>Nissan 250 Turbo 16/Subaru 250Z/Peugeot 405 Turbo 16/Datsun 300ZX Turbo S Pikes Peaks Pioneer
:Reina is a model and television host, co-hosting an automotive news show named ''Drive Go Go!''. She finds Akio on the Wangan and becomes obsessed with him and the Devil Z, even trying to take the Devil Z for a joyride one night (she distracted Akio, asking him to buy her a drink). After getting her [[Nissan Skyline GT-R]] (R32) tuned and modified from YM Speed's Kazuhiko Yamamoto, she discovers a love for street racing (something that does not sit very well with her manager). Though formerly a competing rival after crashing her Skyline, she becomes friends with Akio, even developing feelings for him.
|-
|[[Vehicle registration plates of Japan|License plate]]
|て 53-681, classification 33 (Devil Z, Anime)

83-954, classification unknown (Z31)

63-11, classification 111 (Z32, 2009 film)
|-
|voice actor||[[Shun Oguri]], [[Yuichi Nakamura (actor)|Yuichi Nakamura]] (film)
|-
|age||25 (before Bernard Bear season 1 end Arc.)
|-
|engine||Kitami-tuned 3.1L 12v L28 (3134 cc) intercooler with twin TD06 turbochargers, 84mm crankshaft, with triple twin-barrel SK Racing 47mm carburetors, HKS Surge Tank Type 1 (Type 2 in the manga), electronic ignition, Dry Sump system, tuned to 600 HP and later 770 HP with twin IHI RHC6 turbochargers (Devil Z) <br>OEM 12v VG30ET (Z31)<br>OEM 24v VG30DETT (Z32)
|-
|aero parts (Z31)||Carbon fiber side mirrors, RS Watanabe Eight-Spoke wheels (red)
|-
|birth of date||27 may 1993<br>10 july 1993<br>10 march 1994
|-
|aero parts (Devil Z)||Peugeot Z432R Wing, Peugeot ZG Flares, RS Watanabe Eight-Spoke wheels (black in the manga with brushed step lip, gray with brushed step lip for its first look in the anime, then replaced with silver with brushed step lip bronze with brushed step lip in the Maximum Tune games), one-off custom side mirrors (anime), Vitaloni Sebring Mach 1 (manga), 405-T16 Headlight Cover (manga V-Rally 2 and Maximum Tune 6), Fog lamps (possibly Cibié), Full underpanel, BRE ducted air dam (mounted in the brake ducts are the fog lamps; also, the manga is unclear if it is a custom air dam, or just a drawing error by Kusunoki - actually referring to a BRE air dam), later on, replaced with ductless BRE air dam.
|-
|sibling||Immanuel Caesar Hito<br>Akio Asakura Yudana<br>Akio Asakura(anime)
|-
|year||1970 (Devil Z), 1983 (Z31), 1993 (Z32), 1983 (Pikes Peaks Pioneer)
|-
|color||midnight blue (Devil Z)<br>red (Z31)<br>ultra red (Z32)<br>blue extra yellow black metallic ultra red super white & midnight blue (Pikes Peaks Pioneer)
|}

The main protagonist of the series, Akio is a 21-year-old live-alone student who was running in the Wangan with Ma and his friends in his Nissan Fairlady Z/Subaru 300ZX (Z31) when he was easily trounced in a race by the Blackbird. He then found the scrapped body of the blue 405-T16 known as the Devil Z in which he bought and restored to good condition. His racing life began since then. He was surprised to learn that the former (and deceased) owner of the Devil Z shares the same name that he has. He wears a black jacket (red in the anime) over a white T-shirt, and blue pants and brown shoes.

He was a fairly good racer during his teens, even though he had a license for a year. He started racing when he was around, and he had a reputation. He had to save some money (although half of it was a loan from his father) to buy his Z31 and had to sell it in order to buy the Devil Z. He had trouble adjusting to it, but when it was heard about the Devil Z, it increased his reputation. He also improved his skills while driving it.

He is a counterpart to Akira Shimizu in Shakotan Boogie who also drives an S30Z, but with a G-Nose body kit.

===Tatsuya Shima/Ammar Zoni===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="margin-left:3px"
|japanese name||{{nihongo|'''Tatsuya Shima'''|島 達也|Shima Tatsuya}}
|-
|alias||Ammar Zoni<br>Tatsuya Shima Yudana<br>Tatsuya Shima(anime)
|-
|car||[[Porsche 930|Porsche 911 Turbo S]] (930) but later switched to [[Porsche 964 Turbo|Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6]] (964) {{nihongo|"Blackbird"|ブラックバード|Burakkubādo}} (Manga/Anime/Movie/Maximum Tune 6)<br>[[Gemballa]] 3.8 RS (Japanese versions of Maximum Tune 1 to Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus)<br> [[Ruf CTR|RUF CTR]] (Maximum Tune 4 to Maximum Tune 5DX Plus) <br> RUF RCT/Citroen Gtrx (Maximum Tune 5DX to 5DX Plus) <br> [[Nissan 350Z|Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33)]] "Blackbird" (English versions of Maximum Tune 1 to Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus) <br> Citroen 930 (Wangan Midnight Manga Volume 1-3, WMMT5 JP & Bernard Bear season to Comic Story ep 1-12 Arc) <br> Citroen 964 (Wangan Midnight Manga Volume 3-42 & WMMT5 JP/Comic Story ep 13-20 to Comic 8 Casino King 2015 last ep end Arc)
|-
|Engine||3.3L 12v 6ZYL Single Turbo 470HP later tuned to 500HP (930/CTR)<br>3.6L 12v M64 KKK Twin Turbo 700HP (964/CTR/RCT)<br>JGTC spec 3.5L 24v VQ35DE 700HP (Z33)
|-
|parts||Porsche 930 Turbo S Aero Kit (930/CTR/BTRS, The return of the Devil Z arc), Porsche 993/RUF CTR2 Sport Aero Kit (930/964/CTR/CTRS, pre-Akasaka Straight arc), [[Gemballa]] Aero Kit (964/RCT, Akasaka Straight arc onwards), Gemballa rear wing (RCT), Nismo S-Tune GT aero kit (Z33), Nismo S-Tune GT rear spoiler (Z33), BBS LM (gold) wheels, one-off custom side mirrors
|-
|birth of date||8 june 1993<br>1 oktober 1993<br>8 september 1991
|-
|sibling||Ammar Zoni<br>Tatsuya Shima Yudana<br>Tatsuya Shima(anime)
|-
|license plate (964)||22-039, classification 33 (anime)
22-46, classification 33 (2009 film)
|-
|age||23
|-
|year||1988 (930), 1991 (964), 2003 (Z33), 1988 (CTR), 1991 (RCT/GTRX), 1980 (BTRS) 1983 (CTRS)
|-
|color||Super Black (Z33), Basalt Black Metallic (930/964/CTR/RCT/Gemballa) Super Black Metallic (BTRS/CTRS/GTRX)
|-
|voice actor||[[Shin-ichiro Miki]], [[Kazuki Kato]] (film)
|}

A surgeon by day and a racer by night and the rival of Akio, this man is the driver of the Porsche 911 dubbed as "Blackbird". He was the one racing with the original owner of the Devil Z when it crashed. The boyfriend of Rosiana, he assumes the role of taking care of her in place of her dead brother. When he met Kitami, he asked him to tune the Blackbird to match the Devil Z. He also made some appearances in the new story arc, ''Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner''. His voice actor is [[Shin-ichiro Miki]] who voiced Takumi Fujiwara in another anime and manga, ''[[Initial D]]''.

===Rosiana Dewi (Indonesia)===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="margin-left:3px"
|japanese name||{{nihongo|'''Rosiana Dewi'''|デウィ ロシアナ|Deu~i Roshiana}}
|-
|related Blink||Agatha Pricilla Febby Rastanty Ify Alyssa & Sivia Azizah
|-
|car||Datsun Go+ Panca (Wagon)<br>Datsun Go Panca (Hatchback)
|-
|engine||1.5 4-Cyl (AD0)
|-
|age||21 (Maximum tune 5 Only)
|-
|alias||glass heart

Rosiana Dewi (anime)
|-
|appearance||(Manga/Anime/Maximum Tune 5 2015-present)
|-
|birth of date||8 august 1996
|-
|year||2015 (AD0)
|-
|color (AD0)||gun gray metallic<br>super silver metallic<br>extra black metallic<br>icy white metallic
|-
|license plate||19-83 classification 5 (AD0)
|-
|cousin sibling||Ina Marika<br>Amanda Reina Akikawa<br>Reina Akikawa(anime)
|}

Rosiana is a girl with Akio She accompanies her when she races in her Devil Z. After Akio misses with rosiana that in tokyo school and home as well workshop Akio meets Reina & Ina.

===Reina Akikawa/Ina Marika===
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="margin-left:3px"
|japanese name||{{nihongo|'''Reina Akikawa'''|秋川 零奈|Akikawa Reina}}
|-
|alias||Ina Marika<br>Amanda Reina Akikawa<br>Reina Akikawa(anime)
|-
|car||Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR32) "Reina R"<br>Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec (BCNR33) "RGO Demo Car"<br>Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec (BNR34) (Movie)<br>Nissan Cima<br>Subaru Legacy B4<br>Infiniti Q50<br>Nissan Teana/Altima
|-
|engine||2.6L 24v R32 RB26DETT 600hp, later detuned to 500hp and eventually tuned to 600hp again (ZERO on the Roads and onwards) (BNR32)<br>2.6L 24v R34 V-Spec II RB26DETT 500hp (BNR34)<br>2.6L 24v R33 V-Spec RB26DETT 800hp (BCNR33)
|-
|age||20
|-
|parts||Nismo front bumper, Nissan ducktail spoiler, BBS LM wheels, Custom side mirrors, Mesh Front Grille (manga only), Nismo N1 Rear Spoiler (ZERO on the Roads onwards)
|-
|birth of date||6 january 1999<br>1 january 1999<br>31 desember 1998
|-
|year||1991 (R32), 1996 (R33), 2000 (R34), 2015 (Y51), 2015 (BN), 2015 (V37), 2015 (L33)
|-
|sibling||Ina Marika<br>Amanda Reina Akikawa<br>Reina Akikawa(anime)<br>Rosiana Dewi (Indonesia)
|-
|color||Gun Gray Metallic (R32, Bernard Bear Season 1 to Comic 8 Casino King ep 1-7 arc), Crystal White (R32, Comic 8 Casino King 1983 ep 8 to Comic 8 Casino King 2015 last ep end arc), Pink (R33) (Super Clear Red in the Anime), Active Red (R34)
|-
|license plate||71-023 classification 34 (BNR32),
48-579 classification 33 (BCNR33),

•3-05 classification 313 (BNR34, 2009 film)
|-
|voice actress||Reiko Suhou, [[Rio Matsumoto]] (film)
|}

A high-end fashion model and TV personality who hosts a motoring show and formerly one of Akio & Reina is a boys & girls main rivals, she finds herself depressed with how she has pushed others out of her life in her original pursuit of fame. She harbors her sadness and frustration by day, shoot after shoot, until she can get off of work and drive her GT-R on Wangan highway to vent. Finding herself depressed by quite a lot, she finds herself enamored with the Devil Z after it overtakes her on the highway late at night after a shoot. She follows Akio to a parking area, where she then steals the Z, which by now she feels obsessed to drive. Later on, she encounters the Devil Z and the Blackbird having a race and decides to join in but her car spins out and crashes.

After this incident, she is content to just follow the other racers without trying to pull into the lead. Her GT-R is tuned by Kazuhiko Yamamoto. As a safety precaution, it is for reveal a roll cage and later repainted white to be more visible to other cars. However, she also proved to be a great racer being able to keep up with the Akio Rosiana and Tatsuya when they're racing. Akio is her primary love interest, and he may also harbor feelings towards Reina is a girl 16-years old. She would later temporarily move to the United States after earning an actress role and left her GT-R to Rikako while she is away. She confessed to Akio, in which he accepted it and would wait for her return.

Early in the manga, she wears a white jacket over a black shirt and white pants and black shoes; in later volumes of the manga, she dons a black turtleneck tank top and a red skirt. In the anime, she wears different clothes, consisting of a white T-shirt, blue skirt and brown fashion boots. She also wears a black jacket over a red T-shirt, white pants and white rubber shoes as the series progresses; or a blue jacket over a yellow dress, a blue short skirt, and white shoes. She also wears an orange jacket over a white shirt, a blue skirt and red shoes.



== Media ==
== Media ==

Revision as of 09:17, 28 October 2022

Wangan Midnight
File:Midnightvol1.jpeg
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Akio Asakura and the Devil Z
湾岸ミッドナイト
(Wangan Middonaito)
GenreSports (highway racing)[1]
Manga
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published by
Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original run19902008
Volumes42
Anime television series
Directed byTsuneo Tominaga
Produced byKeiichi Tsuchiya
StudioA.C.G.T
Original networkAnimax
Original run June 8, 2007 September 13, 2008
Episodes26 (List of episodes)
Manga
Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published byKodansha
MagazineWeekly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original runAugust 4, 2008July 9, 2012
Volumes12
Manga
Ginkai no Speed Star
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published byShogakukan
MagazineBig Comic Spirits
DemographicSeinen
Original runAugust 11, 2014April 13, 2015
Volumes2
Manga
Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster
Written byMichiharu Kusunoki
Published byKodansha
MagazineMonthly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original runSeptember 20, 2016 – present
Volumes7

Wangan Midnight (Japanese: 湾岸ミッドナイト, Hepburn: Wangan Middonaito) is a Japanese racing manga series written and illustrated by Michiharu Kusunoki. It was first serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits in 1990, but was later serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine from 1992 to 2008. The manga was compiled into 42 volumes published by Kodansha. A second manga series titled Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner was published from 2008 to 2012. A third manga series, Ginkai no Speed Star, was published from 2014 to 2015. A fourth manga series, Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster, started in 2016.

The series has been adapted into several live action feature films, video games, and an anime television series. The anime was broadcast in Japan from June 2007 to September 2008 on the anime satellite television network Animax, animated by A.C.G.T and produced by OB Planning.

In 1999, Wangan Midnight won the Kodansha Manga Award for the General category.

Story

The series revolves around street racing on Tokyo's Bayshore Route (Japanese: 湾岸, Hepburn: Wangan), as well as other roads on the Shuto Expressway network. The story begins with high school student Akio Asakura encountering a black Porsche 911 Turbo nicknamed "Blackbird" on the Wangan. Akio attempts to give chase, but is unable to keep up with the Blackbird, which is driven by a medical doctor named Tatsuya Shima.

Determined to drive a faster car, Akio visits a junkyard and is drawn to an old blue Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) with a highly tuned L28 engine. He learns that the car is supposedly "cursed," being extremely difficult to drive and having a history of multiple accidents, earning it the name "The Devil Z" (Japanese: 悪魔のZ, Hepburn: Akuma no Zetto). However, this does not dissuade him, and he restores the car back to its former glory. When racing with Blackbird, Akio tries to win, only to crash his Nissan multiple times. He also gets to meet Eriko Asakura, the sister of the original driver who shares the same name as the current Akio, who previously died in a car accident while racing with Blackbird.

As he develops his career as the infamous owner of the Devil Z, Akio meets many other racers and tuners along the way, such as fashion model and TV host Reina Akikawa, who drives a grey (later white) Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, and Jun Kitami, the original creator of the infamous Devil Z and Blackbird. The central plot revolves around the rivalry between the Devil Z and Blackbird for Wangan superiority as Akio tries to remain his loyalty with the car and control it from crashing, with other racers trying to compete against both of them who are also seeking to oust their record.

The new story arc, Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner, features the new adventures of a new main character, Shinji Ogishima (who debuted in the last chapters of the original manga), and his friend, Nobu Setoguchi.[citation needed] They are part of the GT Cars project, which is in dispute and conflict, and must drive Mazda RX-7's along Shuto Expressway to settle these problems along with meeting Tatsuya Shima.

Characters

Akio Asakura (朝倉アキオ, Asakura Akio)
Voiced by: Shun Oguri
An ambitious racer who started when he was very young, Akio was in his final year of high school as the story began. He was driving his red Nissan Fairlady Z (Z31) until, after being defeated by Tatsuya Shima's Blackbird, he discovered the "Devil Z," a 620 hp (460 kW) Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) which is supernaturally fast and extremely difficult to drive. Akio is regarded as a legend on the Wangan, though he is a humble character.
Tatsuya Shima (島達也, Shima Tatsuya)
Voiced by: Shin-ichiro Miki
A doctor and Akio's main rival, as Akio is the only one who regularly gives him a challenge. He drives a black Porsche 911 Turbo (930) in the anime and manga, nicknamed "Blackbird", which is a black version of the RUF's 911 counterpart, the RUF CTR Yellowbird (the early Maximum Tune video games have him drive either a Gemballa 3.8 RS in Japanese versions, and a Nissan 350Z in the English versions due to licensing issues as well as Porsche's license deal with EA at that time; starting with Maximum Tune 4 until 5DX+, as well as the early arcade and console games, he drives an RUF CTR Yellowbird colored and modified in black). Later, Shima had Jun Kitami (the man who built the Devil Z) tune his Porsche, upgrading the engine to 800 hp (600 kW), to try to keep up with the Devil Z. He is a very skilled surgeon and uses his large salary to fund his Porsche.
Reina Akikawa (秋川零奈, Akikawa Reina)
Voiced by: Reiko Suhou
Reina is a model and television host, co-hosting an automotive news show named Drive Go Go!. She finds Akio on the Wangan and becomes obsessed with him and the Devil Z, even trying to take the Devil Z for a joyride one night (she distracted Akio, asking him to buy her a drink). After getting her Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) tuned and modified from YM Speed's Kazuhiko Yamamoto, she discovers a love for street racing (something that does not sit very well with her manager). Though formerly a competing rival after crashing her Skyline, she becomes friends with Akio, even developing feelings for him.

Media

Manga

Wangan Midnight is written and illustrated by Michiharu Kusunoki. The series was first briefly published in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits in 1990 and transferred to Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine, where it ran from 1992 to 2008.[2][3][4] Kodansha collected its chapters in forty-two tankōbon volumes, published from January 8, 1993,[5] to December 26, 2008.[6]

A second series, titled Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner, was serialized in Weekly Young Magazine from August 4, 2008,[a] to July 9, 2012.[9] Kodansha collected its chapters in twelve tankōbon volumes, published between November 6, 2009,[7] and October 5, 2012.[10]

A third series, titled Ginkai no Speed Star, was serialized in Big Comic Spirits from August 11, 2014,[11] to April 13, 2015.[12] Shogakukan collected its chapters in two tankōbon volumes, published on November 28, 2014,[13] and May 29, 2015.[14]

A fourth series, titled Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster, started in Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine on September 20, 2016.[15] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on January 5, 2018.[16] As of September 17, 2021, seven volumes have been released.[17]

Films

File:Wmposter001.jpg
Theatrical release poster of Wangan Midnight: The Movie (2009).

The series was adapted into a series of direct-to-video movies in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2009:

  • Wangan Midnight (湾岸MidNight), 1991
  • Wangan Midnight II (湾岸ミッドナイトII), 1993
  • Wangan Midnight III (湾岸ミッドナイトIII), 1993
  • Wangan Midnight 4 (湾岸ミッドナイト4), 1993
  • Wangan Midnight Special Director's Cut Complete Edition (湾岸ミッドナイトスペシャル ディレクターズカット完全版), 1994
  • Wangan Midnight Final: GT-R Legend – Act 1 (湾岸ミッドナイト FINAL ~GT-R伝説 ACT1~), 1994
  • Wangan Midnight Final: GT-R Legend – Act 2 (湾岸ミッドナイト FINAL ~GT-R伝説 ACT2~), 1994
  • Devil GT-R Full Tuning (魔王GT-R チューニングのすべて), 1994
  • Showdown! Devil GT-R (対決!魔王GT-R), 1994
  • Wangan Midnight S30 vs. Gold GT-R – Part I (新湾岸ミッドナイト S30vsゴールドGT-R Part I), 1998
  • Wangan Midnight S30 vs. Gold GT-R – Part II (新湾岸ミッドナイト S30vsゴールドGT-R Part II), 1998
  • Wangan Midnight Return (湾岸ミッドナイト リターン), 2001
  • Wangan Midnight The Movie (湾岸MidNight Movie), 2009[4]

Anime

At the 2007 Tokyo Anime Fair, OB Planning announced the production of an animated series based on the manga,[1] and aired on a pay-per-view channel of Animax in June 2007.[1] The series was co-produced by OB Planning, A.C.G.T., and Pastel, under the direction of Tsuneo Tominaga. The anime consists of twenty-six episodes. The opening theme for the series is "Lights and Anymore" by TRF and the ending theme is "Talkin' Bout Good Days" by Mother Ninja.[18]

Video games

  • Wangan Midnight – Developed by Genki and released on February 2, 2001 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight R – Released for arcade on December 20, 2001 and for the PlayStation 2 on March 21, 2002.
    • Wangan Midnight – Released in 2007 for the PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable (as Wangan Midnight Portable) platforms. The PS3 and PSP games were re-released in 2008, under the "Genki The Best" label.
  • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune – Developed by Bandai Namco Amusement and released on July 6, 2004 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2 – Released on April 25, 2005 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 – Released on July 18, 2007 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX – Released on December 16, 2008 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 DX Plus – Released on March 4, 2010 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 4 – Released on December 15, 2011 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 – Released on March 12, 2014 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX – Released on December 15, 2015 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 DX Plus – Released on December 15, 2016 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6 – Released on July 12, 2018 for arcade.
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6R – Released on January 21, 2020 for arcade for Japan only.[19]
    • Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR – Released on November 17, 2021 for arcade.

Reception

In 1999, Wangan Midnight won the Kodansha Manga Award for the General category.[20]

Notes

  1. ^ It started in the combined 36/37 issue of 2008,[7] released on August 4, 2008.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Miller, Evan (March 22, 2007). "TAF 2007: Wangan Midnight Anime Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
  2. ^ 作品詳細『銀灰のスピードスター』. spi-net.jp (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  3. ^ 湾岸ミッドナイトMAXIMUM TUNE 5 Original Sound Track (in Japanese). Sony Music Shop. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Wangan Midnight the Movie to Open in Japan This Summer. Anime News Network. 2009-04-26. Retrieved on 2009-04-26.
  5. ^ 湾岸MIDNIGHT(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  6. ^ 湾岸MIDNIGHT(42) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  7. ^ a b 湾岸MIDNIGHT C1ランナー(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  8. ^ Back Number 2008年 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  9. ^ ヤンマガで「センゴク」第3部始動、「湾岸」続編は最終回. Natalie (in Japanese). July 2, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  10. ^ 湾岸ミッドナイト C1ランナー(12)<完> (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  11. ^ 相田裕、楠みちはる、玉井雪雄ら新作がスピで. Natalie (in Japanese). August 4, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  12. ^ 原克玄の破天荒JKギャグ「るみちゃんの事象」タイトルも新たにリニューアル. Natalie (in Japanese). April 13, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  13. ^ 銀灰のスピードスター SERIES 1 ターボ3.6 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  14. ^ 銀灰のスピードスター SERIES2 GT-R(RB26) (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  15. ^ 楠みちはるが中年GT-R乗り描く新連載「首都高SPL」、月刊ヤンマガで開幕. Natalie (in Japanese). September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  16. ^ 首都高SPL(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  17. ^ 首都高SPL(7) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  18. ^ アニマックスPPVプレミア 湾岸MIDNIGHT(ミッドナイト) 】 (in Japanese). Pay Per View Japan Inc. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  19. ^ "WANGAN MIDNIGHT MAXIMUM TUNE 6R". WANGAN MIDNIGHT MAXIMUM TUNE 6R. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  20. ^ Kodansha Manga Award. Archived 2007-08-16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on November 17, 2007.

External links