Before Tokyo Drift: ‘SHUTO KOUSOKU TRIAL 2’ (1990)

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Racing champion Keiichi Tsuchiya, also known as the Drift King, was brought in as a technical advisor on “Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift” and did much of the stunt driving in the picture. It wasn’t his first experience with car cinema, as he also produced ‘Shuto Kousoku Trial 2‘ in 1990.

Although relatively unknown outside of Japan, the first “Shuto Kousoku Trial” film became legendary for getting banned from Japanese cinemas. Criticism from officials was that the movie glorified illegal street racing, and showing it as heroic, exciting and without negative consequences.

Japanese movie studios Nikkatsu Corp and the Toei Company brought in Japanese racing hero Keiichi Tsuchiya as a producer. For the sequel, an anti-street racing message was adopted, avoiding another ban. Before Keiichi Tsuchiya became a racing hero, he was a misguided youth racing on the Expressways of Tokyo, and saw the carnage first-hand. “Shuto Kousoku Trial 2” was semi-autobiographical, tapping into Tsuchiya’s reasons for quitting street racing and going ‘pro’.

This movie then focuses on two friends, Takahiro and Junichi. They’re both deep in the street racing scene, but are going in opposite directions in life. Takahiro has opened up a tuning shop, where he earns the cash for more go-fast parts, while Junichi has just gotten married and is giving up the street racing life.

When a street-racing rival challenges sheepish Takahiro, his friend Junichi steps in to stop it. Junichi agreed to race instead, so long as Takahiro agrees to also give up street racing. Sadly, during his attempt to protect his young friend, Junichi dies in a wreck on the Shuto Expressway.

Months later, Junichi’s widow gifts a Nissan Skyline GT-R to grieving Takahiro. It was her wedding gift to her late husband, and so long as Takahiro vows to give up street-racing, the car is his. Takahiro visits the race track where he trains with the legendary Keiichi Tsuchiya and wants to compete professionally. But cracks begin to show. Takahiro isn’t focused at the track, thinking only about getting revenge against the rival that cost his friend Junichi his life.

Taking everything he’s learned at the race track, Takahiro challenges his rival to race… and simply destroys him. Thanks to his new skills, Takahiro is way ahead while approaching the finish line, but is suddenly struck by the futility of the situation. There is no such thing as street racing glory; Takahiro intentionally loses the race. In an attempts to redeem himself, and make up for his broken promises, Takahiro returns to the circuit where sage old Keiichi Tsuchiya shows the youngster the real path to racing glory.

The sequel “Shuto Kousoku Trial 2” is a puzzling film. While it’s heavy-handed in its stance against street-racing, it’s a 90 minute street-racing movie bookended by appearances by Keiichi Tsuchiya claiming that real racing glory only exists on the track. Exciting, stylish, and with an incredible soundtrack “Shuto Kousoku Trial 2” is certainly entertainment, but it seems like the moral of the story was just duct taped to the end of the movie to guarantee its release.

Perhaps this movie is merely escapism. Everybody wants to be a midnight racer, darting between transport trucks, running from the cops, all while setting the new fastest lap on the unofficial racing circuit that’s actually a Tokyo highway. Keiichi Tsuchiya is there to remind viewers this is just a movie. In real life, drivers can be hurt or killed racing on the Shuto Expressway.

The only answer is to take it to the track..

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