Seiko’s New ‘Initial D’ Watch Puts the AE86 on Your Wrist

Summary

• Seiko celebrates Initial D’s 30th anniversary with a limited-edition AE86-inspired chronograph
• Design features include panda-tone dial, tofu shop logo and dashboard-style subdials
• Only 1,995 units made; second release set for January 2026

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Initial D, Seiko has teamed up with Kodansha and series creator Shuichi Shigeno to release a limited-edition chronograph inspired by protagonist Takumi Fujiwara’s iconic AE86.

Measuring just under 40mm in case diameter, the timepieces arrive in a stainless steel build. The watch’s dial features a striking panda-style two-tone design that mirrors the white-and-black paint job of the Sprinter Trueno, with the “Fujiwara Tofu Shop” logo placed at the 4 o’clock position. Subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock mimic the AE86’s dashboard gauges, while the 6 o’clock subdial bears a stylized “D” emblem, referencing both “drift” and “dream.”
Functionality meets fandom with premium features including a quartz movement accurate to ±15 seconds per month, curved Hardlex crystal and water resistance up to 10 bar. Lumibrite-coated hands and indices ensure visibility in low light, echoing the glow of a nighttime street race.

Each piece is individually numbered out of 1,995 units — a nod to the manga’s original release year. The watch arrives in a collector’s box styled after the AE86’s monochrome livery, complete with Initial D branding and an exclusive illustration card. Priced at ¥65,780 JPY (approx. $446 USD), the first batch has already sold out, with a second wave of pre-order currently open via authorized retailers.

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