Initial D Announces Spicy New Tofu Restaurant Collab with Exclusive Menu and Merch

Initial D is heading from the mountain passes to the dinner table this summer through a brand-new collaboration with Chen Mapo Tofu, the restaurant widely recognized as the birthplace of authentic mapo tofu, celebrating the manga’s 30th anniversary with themed food, exclusive merchandise and collectible bonuses.

Created by Shuichi Shigeno, Initial D is one of the most influential street racing manga ever published, following high school student Takumi Fujiwara as he unexpectedly becomes a legendary downhill driver behind the wheel of his Toyota AE86 while delivering tofu through the mountain roads of Gunma Prefecture.

Named “Mapo Supreme Legend PROJECT.M.D,” the limited-time collaboration playfully connects the series’ famous tofu deliveries with one of China’s most iconic tofu dishes, bringing together two very different legends through a menu inspired by the world of Initial D.

Three exclusive mapo tofu dishes have been created for the event, each inspired by memorable characters and teams from the series.

The “Takumi 86 Black Mapo” is based on Takumi Fujiwara’s legendary AE86 and features the rich flavor of squid ink to create its distinctive black appearance, priced at ¥1,680 (approx. $11 USD / £8 GBP).

The “Keisuke FD Yellow Mapo” draws inspiration from Keisuke Takahashi’s Mazda RX-7 FD, using creamy cheese to deliver a rich and smooth flavor that pays tribute to the rotary engine that made the car famous, priced at ¥1,680 (approx. $11 USD / £8 GBP).

Completing the menu is the “RedSuns Red Mapo,” inspired by Ryosuke Takahashi’s legendary Akagi RedSuns street racing team, delivering a fiery red presentation without being as spicy as its appearance suggests, priced at ¥1,680 (approx. $11 USD / £8 GBP).

Every collaboration menu ordered during the event also includes one randomly selected trading card from a collection of ten exclusive designs, along with a limited-edition collaboration sticker.

The celebration extends beyond the restaurant menu with several collaboration-exclusive merchandise items available throughout the campaign.

Fans will be able to purchase an Initial D edition of Chen Mapo Tofu’s signature mapo tofu seasoning containing three individual packs for ¥850 (approx. $6 USD / £4 GBP), a PROJECT.M.D T-shirt featuring Takumi’s AE86 printed across the back for ¥2,500 (approx. $17 USD / £12 GBP), and one of four exclusive collaboration keychains priced at ¥880 each (approx. $6 USD / £4 GBP).

A special social media campaign will also give 86 lucky winners the chance to receive a non-sale collaboration mapo tofu plate decorated with iconic manga panels from Initial D.

Fans can enter by sharing photos of the collaboration menu or merchandise on X or Instagram using the hashtag “#頭文字MD” before the campaign closes on October 31.

The collaboration will be held at ten Chen Mapo Tofu restaurants across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi and Osaka, including the Shinjuku Nomura Building, Shinjuku Southern Terrace, Ariake Garden, Keio Fuchu, Minato Mirai, Yokohama City Hall LUXS Front, Tama Plaza, Nagoya Mitsukoshi LACHIC, Dai Nagoya Building and Lucua Osaka locations.