by “Mechadock” is full of extremely nerdy car knowledge.
“Yoroshiku Mechadock” (by Ryuji Tsujihara), which began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) in 1982, is a groundbreaking work that focuses on tuning domestic cars, unlike previous manga that dealt with supercars. It was also made into an anime in 1984, which became a big hit. Many people probably learned the words “tuning” and “tune-up” for the first time through this work.
As expected of Ryuji Tsujihara, who has a second-class automobile mechanic’s license, this work is full of maniacal car knowledge. In addition to introducing domestic cars such as the Celica, CR-X, and City, many people have learned car-related terminology and mechanics through “Dr. Kazami’s Mecha Class” and other programs and have become passionate car enthusiasts or have worked in the automotive industry.
The original manga and anime of “Yoroshiku Mechadock” had very different final episodes. In the original story, after Mechadock wins the “East Japan Circuit Grand Prix,” they challenge the “Mito Mileage Marathon” sponsored by Mito Mitsukuni, the chairman of the Mito Konzern.
This is a race that competes not for speed but for fuel efficiency. Mechadock creates a fuel-efficient car that weighs only 20 kg and competes in the race but is narrowly defeated by Chairman Mito’s “Mitsukuni Zero.” Mito, who was thinking of recruiting the best to advance into the automobile division, calls on Kazami’s rival, Nachi Watari, and his rivals to hold a “NEO Tune Race” using the same model, NEO.
Kazami and Nachi, who dared only to improve the operability of their car, tied for first place. Nachi goes to America, and Kazami turns down an invitation from Ferrari, choosing instead to continue with Mechadock, which ultimately leads to the ending. Meanwhile, the anime ends with the spectacular “East Japan Circuit Grand Prix,” which connects three circuits on a highway.
The final episode, “Youth Acceleration On!”, focuses on the blindness of Watanabe Toshimitsu, also known as “Nabe-san,” who is also known as the “God of Tuners.” Kazami, Nachi, Watanabe, and Watanabe’s successor, Mitsuru Igarashi, are in a dead heat on the highway, but Watanabe stops due to his blindness. However, Watanabe is revived by Nachi’s encouragement.
The four then enter the final battle at Fuji Speedway. With the theme song “Yoroshiku Tuning” playing, it is Kazami who takes the checkered flag at Fuji Speedway, which is dyed in the sunset. After shaking hands with his rivals, Kazami holds a victory party with his Mechadock comrades and is seen off by Nakamura Ichiro and Noro Kiyoshi as he heads off to Yokohama Port in a pink Subaru 360 (the setting of Yokohama is original to the anime).
The episode ended with Kazami looking out at the nighttime view of Yokohama Port from his car as imaginary ribbons fluttered down, reminiscent of those in the works of Suzuki Hideto, a popular illustrator who is a symbol of the 1980s.
This was not an abrupt production and a similar one was used for the ending, featuring a landscape reminiscent of the American West Coast. It’s a very 80s-like ending. The anime ended in March 1985. The serialization of the original manga also ended around the same time. Naturally, the anime, which requires a lot of work, had to decide on the story first, and it was a reasonable choice to choose the “East Japan Circuit Grand Prix,” which is in the middle of the original manga, as the final episode.
