TV-Series
Description
Koichi Kijima, also known by the nickname the Big Mouth Slugger, is a prominent figure in the world of high-performance automobiles. He worked as a writer for several famous car publications and became a television personality, co-hosting the motoring program Drive Go Go alongside Reina Akikawa. His professional experience exposed him to a wide array of vehicles, giving him deep insight into how to extract maximum performance from any car.
Before his media career, Kijima was a highly active tuner and driver. Alongside his colleagues Ko Tominaga and Machida, he was a record-setter at the Tsukuba Circuit. Together, they operated under the shop name Zero, which was responsible for building the legendary Mazda RX-7 FC3S.
Kijima is a supporting major character who serves as the primary arc rival during the Legendary FC story arc. After being absent from the street racing scene for five years, Kijima decides to return. He restores the legendary FC that Zero had created to its former glory with the specific goal of challenging the two most formidable cars on the Wangan highway: Akio Asakura's Devil Z and Tatsuya Shima's Blackbird. His motivations are rooted in the desire to reassert his skill and prove the capability of his machine against the current top contenders.
Kijima is depicted as a highly skilled and analytical driver who can adapt to different cars quickly. His background as a tuner means he understands the technical specifics of vehicle setup as well as the driving techniques needed on the highway. He is known for being well-connected within the automotive industry, leveraging his media presence to know many prominent people in the car world. He is determined and direct in his pursuit of speed on the Wangan, displaying a competitive fire that burns just as brightly as the younger racers he faces.
His most notable professional relationship is with his co-host Reina Akikawa, a connection that bridges the worlds of automotive media and underground street racing. His driving is defined by his partnership with his former colleagues from Zero, Ko Tominaga and Machida, the tuners who originally created the FC and helped him restore it. Kijima's arc revolves around his return to form. He is a veteran who steps back into the spotlight to test himself against a new generation of racers and legendary machines. Through his battles on the Wangan, he reaffirms his place among the fastest drivers.
Before his media career, Kijima was a highly active tuner and driver. Alongside his colleagues Ko Tominaga and Machida, he was a record-setter at the Tsukuba Circuit. Together, they operated under the shop name Zero, which was responsible for building the legendary Mazda RX-7 FC3S.
Kijima is a supporting major character who serves as the primary arc rival during the Legendary FC story arc. After being absent from the street racing scene for five years, Kijima decides to return. He restores the legendary FC that Zero had created to its former glory with the specific goal of challenging the two most formidable cars on the Wangan highway: Akio Asakura's Devil Z and Tatsuya Shima's Blackbird. His motivations are rooted in the desire to reassert his skill and prove the capability of his machine against the current top contenders.
Kijima is depicted as a highly skilled and analytical driver who can adapt to different cars quickly. His background as a tuner means he understands the technical specifics of vehicle setup as well as the driving techniques needed on the highway. He is known for being well-connected within the automotive industry, leveraging his media presence to know many prominent people in the car world. He is determined and direct in his pursuit of speed on the Wangan, displaying a competitive fire that burns just as brightly as the younger racers he faces.
His most notable professional relationship is with his co-host Reina Akikawa, a connection that bridges the worlds of automotive media and underground street racing. His driving is defined by his partnership with his former colleagues from Zero, Ko Tominaga and Machida, the tuners who originally created the FC and helped him restore it. Kijima's arc revolves around his return to form. He is a veteran who steps back into the spotlight to test himself against a new generation of racers and legendary machines. Through his battles on the Wangan, he reaffirms his place among the fastest drivers.