After four movies in the ‘Megalopolis Expressway‘ / ‘Shuto Kousoko‘ series, it’s finally clear why Japanese racer Keiichi Tsuchiya came on board as a producer after the first film failed. He always casts himself as the hero!
Some know Tsuchiya as the fisherman in ‘F&F: Tokyo Drift‘ (he was actually the stuntman driving the car). But he’s also two-time class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Before that, he honed his skills over years of illegal street racing in Japan’s underground scene, giving these films a personal angle.
In ‘Megalopolis Expressway Trial 4‘, the protagonists are teenage street racer Toshihiko Tojima, and his little brother Kenichi who idolizes him. Lil’ Kenichi dreams of his his big brother Toshihiko ‘going pro’ and competing against Japanese racing superstar Tsuchiya and his famous Nissan GT-R.
Sadly, lil’ Kenichi is suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer, and his big brother is compelled to make the kid’s dream come true before he crosses that finish line in the sky.
Knowing there isn’t enough time to become a professional race car driver, Toshihiko focuses on becoming a street racing legend, setting the fastest lap ever on the Shuto Expressway. Needing quick cash for a faster car, Toshihiko sells his prized Nissan S13 Silvia… and his parents Honda Accord! He buys a red Nissan GT-R but also get a slap in the face from pops.
‘Megalopolis Expressway Trial 3‘ was a real high point for the series. The cinematography and camera work were Hollywood level. But this one is more like made-for-TV quality. The plot tries to draw in the viewer by pulling at their heart strings, but falls flat. It’s hard to relate to a Japanese James Dean selling their dad’s Honda to buy himself a Nissan GT-R!
But the acting is so bad, and the plot so silly, even Japanese dialog doesn’t mask it. Like the hospital scenes are obviously filmed in a bedroom; no IV bad, no beeping heart monitor, nothing. And when lil’ Kenichi fist-bumps big brother Toshihiko, then just collapses and dies… come on!
Let’s fast forward a little. Toshihiko and his lipstick-red GT-R starts street racing for real, and defeats a black Toyota Supra Twin Turbo R to become the Zero-Yon Champion (like a 400 m drag race) getting his picture on the cover of the latest street racing magazine. Crazy as that sounds, publications used to cover illegal street racing in Japan!
But Toshihiko isn’t satisfied, and wants to set the record on the Shuto Expressway. While racing against a white Mazda RX-7 FC, Toshihiko wrecks and ends up in the hospital. There he meets Takahiro Yamanaka, the protagonist from from ‘Megalopolis Expressway 2‘! Takahiro takes mercy on Toshihiko, helps rebuild the wrecked GT-R, and even trains the young street racer.
Eventually our protagonist is introduced to famous Japanese race car driver Keiichi Tsuchiya, who has agreed to a race on a sanctioned track, as long as Toshihiko gives up street racing. The final battle is set, with Toshihiko finally getting to challenge Tsuchiya, just like lil’ Kenichi would have wanted.
When looked at in context, as a Direct-To-DVD movie from the early ’90s, ‘Shuto Kousoko Trial 4‘ isn’t that bad. There’s a lot of cool cars, and a street racing scene that doesn’t exist any more. But the little kid brother dying of cancer is really heavy handed.
Yet the overall themes of family, of brotherly love, and of the compelling desire to strive for racing glory… any gearhead can get behind a story like that, no matter what language is being spoken.