In a world of electric cars, one racing organization fights to keep combustion alive
In short: Set in a future dominated by self-driving electric vehicles, the MF Ghost manga explores a defiant subculture. Through the eyes of Kanata Rivington, a Formula 4 world champion, we witness a high-stakes street racing scene dedicated exclusively to the roar of internal combustion engines.
Shuichi Shigeno's manga series, MF Ghost, serves as a sequel to his renowned work, Initial D. The narrative is set in the 202X era, a period where the automotive landscape has shifted toward autonomous electric transport. In response to this technological transition, an organization known as MFG was founded by Ryosuke Takahashi to preserve the tradition of street racing using internal combustion engines. This series was originally published in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine. It was serialized from September 2017 until February 2025. The chapters are currently collected into 23 tankōbon volumes.
The story follows Kanata Rivington, a 19-year-old Japanese-British driver competing under the pseudonym Kanata Katagiri. A former Formula 4 world champion trained at the Royal Donington Racing School in the UK by legendary racer Takumi Fujiwara, Kanata drives a Toyota 86. While climbing the MFG ladder, he overcame elite vehicles like the Porsche 911 Carrera (991), Alfa Romeo 4C, Lotus Exige, Ferrari 488 GTB, and Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4. He is currently searching for his long-lost father. His training took place at the Royal Donington Racing School.
While the manga has achieved significant commercial success—surpassing 4 million copies in circulation by January 2023—the anime adaptation has received polarized reviews. Critics from Anime News Network have noted a divide in reception. While some praised the CG vehicle details and the return of Eurobeat music, others criticized the series for having thin character development, repetitive racing sequences, or a lack of the 'over-the-top' energy found in its predecessor, Initial D. The anime adaptation was produced by Felix Film. It features a soundtrack heavily featuring Eurobeat music.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: MF Ghost
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