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.
The series revolves around street racing on Tokyo's
Bayshore Route (湾岸, 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" (悪魔のZ, 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 maintain 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.
18 (before Bernard Bear Season 1 Episode 1-52/S30Z & Devil Z the series/Angel Heart A New Beginning/Blackbird the series & We Story LDR arc) 19
friends
Maura Morishita (appearance on We Story LDR Angel Heart A New Beginning Final Edition & Wangan Midnight)
appearance
We Story LDR (Drama, Comic) Angel Heart A New Beginning (Natal Edition) Part 1 & 2 Angel Heart A New Beginning (Final Edition 2024) Wangan Midnight (New Version 2024)
sibling
Ina Marina, Eina Marisna & Reina Marisa (appearance on We Story LDR Angel Heart A New Beginning Final Edition & Wangan Midnight)
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 600HP and later 800HP with twin IHI RHC6 turbochargers (Devil Z)
aero parts (Devil Z)
Nissan Z432R Wing, Nissan ZG Flares, RS Watanabe 8-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), Devil Z S30 RS Watanabe 8-Spoke wheels black gloss (Demon Z, before We Story LDR arc), Rays TE37V wheels black custom (Demon Z, after We Story LDR arc) Fender Flare black matte, one-off custom side door mirrors black glossy, Vitaloni Sebring Mach 1 (manga), S30Z Headlight Cover (Drama comic Daytona USA Championship 3 HD (Cover by WMMT5 japan Ver.) WMMT6RR WMMT6RR+ and Daytona USA Championship 4 HD (Cover by WMMT6RR+)), 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.
The main protagonist of the series, Akio is a 19-year-old live-alone student who was running in the Wangan with Ina Marina Eina Marisna & Reina Marisa in his Datsun GO+ is a Silver colour when he was easily trounced in a race by the Blackbird. He then found the scrapped body of the blue S30Z Demon Z 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 sneakers.
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 Datsun GO+ is a Silver colour 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 Demon 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.
3.3L 12v 6ZYL Single Turbo 470HP later tuned to 500HP (930) 3.6L 12v M64 KKK Twin Turbo 700HP (964)
parts
Porsche 930 Turbo S Aero Kit (930, before We Story LDR Drama, WMMT6RR & WMMT6RR+ arc), Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 S Aero Kit (964, after We Story LDR Drama, WMMT6RR & WMMT6RR+ arc onwards), front and rear fog lights & bumper, BBS E88 (gold) wheels, (964, before We Story LDR arc), Porsche Aero Kit, front and rear fog lights & bumper BBS LM (black gloss) wheels, (964, after We Story LDR arc onwards), Porsche rear wing (964), one-off custom side doors mirrors
We Story LDR (Drama, Comic) Angel Heart A New Beginning (Natal Edition) Part 1 & 2 Angel Heart A New Beginning (Final Edition 2024) Wangan Midnight (New Version 2024)
cousin
Maura Morishita, Gabriella Maharani, Annisa Maharani, Adinda Maharani & Valerie Maharani (appearance on We Story LDR Wangan Midnight & Angel Heart A New Beginning)
year
1983 (930), 1994 (964)
color
Basalt Black Metallic (930/964)
television
RTV
A surgeon by day and a racer by night and the rival of Akio, this man is the driver of the Porsche 964 dubbed as "Blackbird". He was the one racing with the original owner of the Demon Z when it slipped. The boyfriend is Tatsuya Shima alias Rayhan Rashid with Erico Monica is a Glass Heart, 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, We Story LDR
1.2L GO+ HR12DE 600hp, later detuned to 500hp and eventually tuned to add Turbocharger 600hp again (ZERO on the Roads and onwards) (GO+)
age
24
appearance
We Story LDR (Drama, Comic) Angel Heart A New Beginning (Natal Edition) Part 1 & 2 Angel Heart A New Beginning (Final edition 2024) Wangan Midnight (New Version 2024)
cousin
Eriko Asakura Is a Glass Heart (appearance on We Story LDR Wangan Midnight & Angel Heart A New Beginning)
parts
Datsun GO+ body kit front & rear bumper, front fog lights, upper spoiler with high mount stop light, without turn signal in the Fender, side mirror black matte without turn signal and original alloy wheels black metal can cover hubcap silver (Drama only)
single-caliper front disc & rear drum brakes (GO+)
year
2015 (GO+)
color
Super white metallic (GO+)
license plate
35-70 classification 99 (GO+, Drama)
voice actress
Reiko Suhou
television
RTV
Monica is a girl model and television, business student college lecture & school an automotive news show named The Jatco Show. She finds Akio on the Wangan and becomes obsessed with him and the Devil Z, even trying to take the Demon Z for a joyride one night. After getting her Datsun GO+ given a Turbo from Kitami Cycle Jun Kitami, she discovers a love for street racing (something that does not sit very well with her manager). Though formerly a competing rival, she becomes friends with Akio after slipping her GO+ whilst racing him, even developing feelings for him. As a result, Erico Monica is similar with Rosiana Dewi just spectates the races on sidelines while driving her Datsun GO+ or just coming with Akio Asakura and Tatsuya Shima is similar with Dimas Anggara & Rizky Nazar to see him race.
Playable Vehicle All Wheel Drive (AWD)
Appearance Since WMMT5 (Japan)
Honda S2000 AP1 2000 All Variant & Colour AWD
Honda CR-Z ZF1 2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Daihatsu Copen XPlay LA400 2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Daihatsu Copen Robe LA400 2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Honda S660 JW5 2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Porsche Macan 2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Porsche Cayenne 2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Porsche Panamera 2015 (LWB Edition) All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan 350Z Coupe 2002-2008 Z33 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan 350Z Roadster 2003-2008 Z33 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan 370Z Coupe 2008-2015 Z34 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan 370Z Roadster 2009-2015 Z34 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Almera/Latio/Versa Sedan N17 2012-2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Altima Coupe L32 2007-2013 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Altima Sedan L32 2007-2013 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Altima Sedan L33 2013-2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Armada 2004-2015 TA60 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Caravan 2012-2015 E26 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Cima Sedan (LWB Version) Y51 2012-2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Elgrand 2010-2015 E52 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Fairlady Z Z33 2002-2008 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Fairlady Z Z34 2008-2015 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Frontier 2000-2004 D22 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Frontier 2005-2015 D40 All Variant & Colour AWD
Nissan Fuga Y50 2004-2009 All Variant & Colour AWD
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 April 18, 2024, eleven volumes have been released.[17]
Films
The series was adapted into a series of direct-to-video movies in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2001, and a theatrical movie in 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
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 December 18, 2001, for
arcade (by
Namco, using the
Namco System 246 hardware),[19] and for the
PlayStation 2 on March 21, 2002 by Genki.
Wangan Midnight R – Released for arcade in April 2002.[20]
Wangan Midnight – Released in 2007 for the
PlayStation 3 and
PlayStation Portable (as Wangan Midnight Portable) platforms. The 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.[21]
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR – Released on November 17, 2021, for arcade.
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR+ – Released on April 17, 2024, for arcades in Japan.[22]