Akiyama, Wataru

秋山渉

One of the initial racers from Saitama to compete against Takumi in his turbocharged Levin, he returned in Fourth Stage, having swapped the turbocharger for a supercharger to achieve more linear acceleration. Wataru is a proficient driver who refined his abilities on the hazardous Shomaru Pass. He traveled to Gunma hoping to encounter new racers for challenges, as well as to keep an eye on his sister Kazumi, who had recently started working at a hotel with her aunt. Wataru reappeared in episode 9 of Fourth Stage as Nobuhiko's cousin, observing Takumi's race against the Northern Saitama Alliance in hopes of identifying a weak spot.
Wataru subsequently raced against Keisuke Takahashi in wet conditions, but when his tires lost traction after hitting a metal gutter while he was adjusting his wipers, he was defeated.
Sometime later, Wataru confronts the imposter Project D somewhere in Saitama and assists the real Project D in exposing them as frauds.