OVA
Description
Jotaro "Bleed" Kaga, born April 1, 1996, forged his reputation in deadly underground crash races, developing exceptional driving skills as a money-driven competitor. These unregulated, often fatal events taught him unconventional techniques he later shared with rookie Hayato Kazami during their first highway encounter, establishing a complex friendship that evolved into professional rivalry. He controversially entered professional racing, securing his Cyber Formula Super License through unofficial channels, raising scrutiny before his debut close second-place finish.
Initially competing for Aoi ZIP Formula in 2015, he demonstrated principle by refusing team owner Kyoko Aoi’s financial incentive to interfere in the championship-deciding race, deliberately retiring to ensure a fair contest. After skipping the 2016 and 2017 seasons to win two consecutive IndyCar championships, he returned full-time to Cyber Formula in 2018, cementing Hayato as his primary rival and securing second in the overall standings.
His career pivoted in the 2022 season. Facing Aoi team disbandment without a championship win, Kaga struggled with an outdated machine (Ex-Superion Z/A-10), suffering humiliating losses. Kyoshiro Nagumo intervened, providing the prototype Ogre AN-21, a bio-computer-equipped vehicle notorious for killing previous test pilots due to extreme demands. Kaga mastered the Ogre through intensive training and support from former drivers Grey Steinback and Phill Fritz, overcoming its lethal reputation and his own trauma from a past accident. That accident, where his discovery of the predictive "Zero-Realm" ability led to friend Eiji Aizawa's death, haunted him.
In the season finale, Kaga engaged Hayato in fierce rivalry, capitalizing on Hayato's car failures to level their championship points before the final race. He executed a last-corner overtake by diverting all power to Ogre’s boosters, securing his sole championship title. Immediately after victory, he retired from professional racing, discarded the "Bleed" alias to revert to Jotaro, visited Eiji Aizawa’s grave to reconcile his guilt, and left Japan for the United States.
Kaga’s driving style blended aggressive, offensive tactics—like turbulence and dust manipulation—with strategic restraint, avoiding unnecessary risks outside extreme situations. His psychological complexity stemmed from his crash-racing background, grief over Eiji’s death, and identifying Hayato as a "lifetime rival," partly due to similarities with Eiji.
Initially competing for Aoi ZIP Formula in 2015, he demonstrated principle by refusing team owner Kyoko Aoi’s financial incentive to interfere in the championship-deciding race, deliberately retiring to ensure a fair contest. After skipping the 2016 and 2017 seasons to win two consecutive IndyCar championships, he returned full-time to Cyber Formula in 2018, cementing Hayato as his primary rival and securing second in the overall standings.
His career pivoted in the 2022 season. Facing Aoi team disbandment without a championship win, Kaga struggled with an outdated machine (Ex-Superion Z/A-10), suffering humiliating losses. Kyoshiro Nagumo intervened, providing the prototype Ogre AN-21, a bio-computer-equipped vehicle notorious for killing previous test pilots due to extreme demands. Kaga mastered the Ogre through intensive training and support from former drivers Grey Steinback and Phill Fritz, overcoming its lethal reputation and his own trauma from a past accident. That accident, where his discovery of the predictive "Zero-Realm" ability led to friend Eiji Aizawa's death, haunted him.
In the season finale, Kaga engaged Hayato in fierce rivalry, capitalizing on Hayato's car failures to level their championship points before the final race. He executed a last-corner overtake by diverting all power to Ogre’s boosters, securing his sole championship title. Immediately after victory, he retired from professional racing, discarded the "Bleed" alias to revert to Jotaro, visited Eiji Aizawa’s grave to reconcile his guilt, and left Japan for the United States.
Kaga’s driving style blended aggressive, offensive tactics—like turbulence and dust manipulation—with strategic restraint, avoiding unnecessary risks outside extreme situations. His psychological complexity stemmed from his crash-racing background, grief over Eiji’s death, and identifying Hayato as a "lifetime rival," partly due to similarities with Eiji.