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Capeta
View on Wikipedia | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
| Capeta | |
 Cover of Capeta volume 1 as published by Kodansha | |
| カペタ | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Masahito Soda |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher |
|
| Magazine | Monthly Shōnen Magazine |
| Original run | March 2003 – March 2013 |
| Volumes | 32 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Shin Misawa |
| Written by | Tsutomu Kamishiro |
| Music by | Toshihiko Sahashi |
| Studio | Studio Comet |
| Original network | TXN (TV Tokyo) |
| Original run | October 4, 2005 – September 26, 2006 |
| Episodes | 52 |
Capeta (カペタ, Kapeta) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masahito Soda. The manga won the Kodansha Manga Award for the shōnen category in 2005.[1]
The series consists of three separate arcs. The first is about Capeta's first experiences with kart racing at the age of 10. The next arc, which starts four years later, deals with Capeta trying to handle his growing financial issues due to the high cost involved in kart racing. The third is about Capeta trying to realize his dream of beating his rival and becoming a professional racer, venturing through into a more senior category: Formula Three. Both the anime and manga features numerous references and homages to Initial D and Best Motoring International, as well as Formula One. In addition to this, there are many karting and racing references that not only add flesh to the story, but are also factual (such as comments about racing lines, tire usage, slipstreaming and general commentary on the world of four-wheel racing).
Kodansha published the series in English on their K Manga service.[2]
Plot
[edit]Kappeita Taira (平 勝平太, Taira Kappeita), otherwise known as "Capeta" (カペタ, Kapeta), is a ten-year-old boy whose single-parent father, Shigei Taira (平 茂雄, Taira Shigei), works for a paving company. While completing a paving job at a go-kart track, his father sees a young boy racing at the track and is amazed at the speed and seeming thrill of the sport. Realizing that his young son has an interest in racing cars (particularly Formula One), Shigei asks the circuit steward as to whether he is able to take some old worn-down parts out of the circuit's trash pile. Taking these back to his workplace, he manages to construct a rundown yet drivable kart. Shigei's boss, Mr. Ikari, (initially begrudgingly) supplies a 4-stroke generator engine to power the kart.
Determined, Capeta, in his first time on a race track, manages to not only master the mangled racer, but also catches and attempts to overtake Naomi Minamoto (源 奈臣, Minamoto Naomi) on the inside line, a talented young racer who drives for a works karting team, Endless Autohouse Racing. This overtaking maneuver shocks Naomi so much so that he drops the accelerator of his kart, accelerates past Capeta. This infuriates his mother and team manager, Nanako Minamoto (源 奈々子, Minamoto Nanako), as he over-revved a brand new engine which he was supposed to be merely running in. Nobu Andou and Monami Suzuki, Capeta's best friends, support him in his karting – Nobu as his technical assistant/manager and Monami as the self-appointed team manager.
Capeta, unaware of the difference in machinery between his own kart and Naomi's works-grade kart, does not understand why it was impossible for him to catch Naomi. Nonetheless, onlookers are amazed that a child from out of the blue is able to push his machine to such a limit, let alone unnerve the track's local hotshot. Nanako, also amazed, offers to help Capeta's entry into the world of kart racing, secretly as a rival for her son. After what is a difficult conversation for Capeta, the Taira father and son turn down the offer to enroll Capeta in the Endless Autohouse Racing team and run their own single kart team on their own instead. He goes on to participate and win a race in the SL Class beating both the drivers of Endless Autohouse Racing Team in the final lap.
In the second arc, Capeta has grown up. He is now 14 years old, in 3rd grade of junior high school and has won the junior karting class he had competed in. His racing suit and kart are now blue, his racing number having changed from 14 to 30. Nobu and Monami have also matured a lot while still helping Capeta with his karting aspirations. Having stepped up to a more senior class (ICA Class), he realizes that to win races is a lot harder without the support of a well-funded team. In what he sees as his final chance – a race in torrential downpour – he pushes himself to the limit so as to give himself the best chance of winning and beating another up and coming successful driver Ryou Shiba, but is relegated to second by the smallest of margins and fractures his ribcage in the process. After he is hospitalized, he is introduced to a one-make automobile racing formula known as Formula Stella (an indirect reference to Formula Toyota). As he was exceptionally talented in kart racing, Nobu presents Capeta as a candidate to attend FSRS, the Formula Stella Racing School. After proving to the head of Stella's racing arm that Capeta was worthy, Nobu is given the enrollment paperwork. One condition stressed by the Stella management is that crashing is absolutely prohibited – not simply for the loss of money incurred, but also the loss of confidence in that racer to produce results under racing conditions.
Although not having so much as the ability to change gears in a regular car at the start, Capeta quickly progresses to be one of the fastest students in the school. During the qualifying for the mock race on the last day though, Capeta crashes due to not being able to avoid a slower racer who had lost control of his car and spun on the track. Capeta was taking a blind uphill figure-S corner, so he couldn't see ahead. By the time Capeta's instructor, Shinkawa Hideki, told him to watch out, Capeta locks up his car's brakes and the two machines crash. No one was hurt in the incident, but Capeta was devastated due to breaking his promise of not crashing and feels that his future in racing is over. His father, though, does not give up and encourages Capeta to continue – despite the ¥1,650,000 damage costs from Capeta's accident.
He uses his talents, going on to win his races, defeating his team's talented racers and making him a series winner despite an engine failure late in the final race, but still managed to win the race with Shiba Ryou close by. Nobu admits that he wants to become the best racing manager and that he'd always be with Capeta until the very end. The last episode ends with an outlook at the near future: it is narrated that Naomi and Capeta race against one another in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The last narration was: "Both racers are very talented. It's a fight between two Japanese".
Characters
[edit]- Taira Capeta
- Capeta is 10 years old at the beginning of the anime, 14 in the 2nd arc and 16 in the 3rd arc. Capeta steps into the world of kart racing when his father fixed him a kart. Even before this, Capeta had shown an interest in cars. He is very talented, showing his adaptability, balance, and brilliance on the track. There are lot of people who are drawn to Capeta's racing and say that he gives them something to look forward to. His mother died when he was young so he did every housework from when he was little. Capeta would eventually race in Formula One. Minamoto Naomi is his greatest rival; Capeta wants to race him but feels that Minamoto is always one step ahead of him.
- Sarukki
- A monkey who is Capeta's pet and serves as a mascot for the team. He was originally owned by Momotarou and was named Reinhardt III. He was re-named after he took a liking to the members of Team Capeta and Momotarou decided to give the monkey to Capeta as a gift.
- Taira Shigei
- Father of Capeta. He works for a paving company and is mostly not home. In the beginning, he thinks that Taira is an obedient, quiet kid since he gives no trouble but after seeing him in the kart he fixed Shigei realizes that Taira was being reserved. He later supports Taira in his years of kart racing and a racer.
- Monami Suzuki
- A gravure idol-turned-singer and childhood friend of Capeta who calls herself the "biggest supporter" of his team.
- Nobu Andou
- At first, he bullied Taira because he thought it was annoying how Taira wasn't serious about anything but becomes friends with him after finally seeing him motivated. Nobu admits that he wants to become the best racing manager and that he'd always be with Capeta until the very end.
- Naomi Minamoto
- Naomi is only one year older than Taira. He is very serious in karts and cars. Naomi never lost in a race and is always hard on himself and to others. He realizes the unfairness in the world better than anyone else. The only thing that interest him is Formula One. After seeing Taira's first race, he began to see him as his rival. Unknown to Taira, Minamoto also wishes to race against him. Though he doesn't say it, he shows great interest in Taira.
Episodes
[edit]In the anime, there are 52 episodes and each episode is called a "Lap".
- Remove the Limiter!
- My Kart!
- My First Time on the Circuit!
- Full Throttle!
- Rival!
- Team Capeta!
- Entry!
- Crash!
- Course Record!
- Time Trial!
- Start!
- Battle!
- Team Order!
- Winner!
- Step Up!
- Penalty!
- Overtake!
- Sponsor!
- Festival!
- Partner!
- Racing History!
- Pressure!
- Last Chance!
- Condition!
- Reverse!
- Traction!
- Blue Flag!
- Challenge!
- Slick Tire!
- Hard Rain!
- Side by Side!
- Final Lap!
- Presentation!
- Scout!
- Performance!
- Idling!
- New Machine!
- Formula Stellar!
- First Step!
- Shift Up!
- Blind Corner!
- Turning Point!
- Hit Up!
- Pit In!
- Victory Road!
- Audition!
- Perfect Win!
- Next Stage!
- Versus!
- Second Driver!
- Red Zone!
- Checkered Flag!
References
[edit]- ^ Joel Hahn. "Kodansha Manga Awards". Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
- ^ "Kodansha's K Manga app launches with 60 English simupubs among 400 titles". Sora News 24. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
External links
[edit]- TV Tokyo's Capeta website Archived 2021-03-23 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
- Capeta (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
Capeta
View on GrokipediaPremise and themes
Plot overview
Capeta follows the journey of Taira Kappeita, a 10-year-old boy nicknamed Capeta, who loses his mother at a young age and is raised by his widower father, Shigei Taira.[9][10] To keep his son occupied while he works long hours, Shigei builds a makeshift go-kart from junk parts scavenged from his construction job, initially as a simple toy.[11][12] However, Capeta discovers a profound passion for racing upon testing the kart at a local circuit, marking the beginning of his dedication to the sport despite the vehicle's poor performance.[3][13] The first arc, spanning Capeta's ages 10 to 11, centers on his entry into local kart racing at a nearby circuit, where he participates in his initial races and begins forming rivalries, including with the talented Naomi Minamoto.[11][14] Through these experiences, Capeta gains recognition within the local racing community and assembles a supportive team of friends, fostering his growth as a novice racer amid early challenges and small victories.[13] In the second arc, set at age 14, Capeta relocates to a new town to join a more competitive racing team, escalating his involvement to national junior kart competitions.[11][14] He confronts stronger opponents, invests in technical improvements to his kart, and navigates personal hurdles such as balancing school responsibilities with the mounting financial demands of the sport.[13][11] The third arc, occurring at age 16, depicts Capeta's transition to advanced racing levels, including national championships like the All Japan Kart Championship, as he pursues international opportunities and aims for a professional career in Formula racing.[14][11] This phase highlights his incremental achievements, such as competing in major tournaments, alongside setbacks that test his resolve, ultimately driving his ambition from a childhood hobby toward elite motorsport.[13][10]Themes
Capeta emphasizes the central theme of perseverance and hard work, portraying the protagonist's journey through repeated failures and comebacks in kart racing as a metaphor for personal growth achieved via relentless effort rather than innate talent. This motif underscores how dedication and incremental improvements enable overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds in competitive environments.[15] The narrative explores family bonds and the impact of loss, highlighting how the protagonist's mother's death fosters early independence while his father's sacrifices provide emotional grounding and motivation. These elements are depicted as key drivers for building resilience, illustrating the role of familial support in navigating adversity and pursuing ambitions.[5] Rivalry and friendship are balanced in the story, where intense competition evolves into mutual respect and collaboration, such as rivals aiding in kart development to push collective progress. This portrayal shows how adversarial relationships can cultivate alliances and shared growth within the high-stakes world of motorsports.[15] The series incorporates realism in motorsports, focusing on technical details like kart tuning, strategic decision-making, and rigorous physical training to represent broader life challenges, while deliberately avoiding supernatural or exaggerated elements for authenticity. These aspects ground the inspirational tone in practical realities of the sport, emphasizing preparation and adaptability.[8] Coming-of-age is woven throughout, tracing the protagonist's transformation from a naive child to a disciplined racer, where maturity emerges through increasing responsibility, goal-setting, and self-reflection amid evolving competitive pressures. This progression highlights the developmental journey from youthful passion to professional determination.[15]Characters
Main characters
Taira Kappeita, commonly known as Capeta, serves as the protagonist, a 10-year-old fourth-grade boy who has endured a lonely childhood following the early loss of his mother. He initially projects a tough exterior to mask his emotional vulnerability and isolation, particularly around his overworked father, but discovers profound passion and determination through kart racing after receiving a homemade go-kart assembled from scrap parts. Capeta's technical curiosity drives him to tinker with kart mechanics, evolving him from a withdrawn child into a resilient competitor focused on self-improvement.[5][2] Taira Shigeo, Capeta's father, is a dedicated construction worker employed by a paving company, often absent due to long overtime hours aimed at supporting his impoverished family. Overcome by guilt for neglecting his son amid his demanding job, Shigeo constructs Capeta's first kart using workplace junk materials, marking the start of his active involvement in his child's racing pursuits. Through his mechanical expertise and steady emotional guidance, Shigeo embodies paternal sacrifice, balancing financial pressures with encouragement for Capeta's growing ambitions.[16][17][18][19] Naomi Minamoto is Capeta's primary rival, a one-year-older prodigy racer renowned for his undefeated record in competitions, including the East Japan Junior Kart championship, and affiliation with the professional team Endless Autohouse Racing. Serious and self-critical, Naomi approaches karting with intense focus, initially viewing Capeta antagonistically due to the underdog's unexpected challenge, though their rivalry fosters mutual respect over time. His superior skills and access to advanced resources underscore the competitive dynamics in junior racing.[16][20][5] Nobu Andou functions as Capeta's loyal best friend and teammate, offering unwavering support and comic relief amid the high-stakes world of racing. Initially driven by jealousy toward Capeta's talent, Nobu transitions into a steadfast ally who aids in strategy development and provides encouragement during setbacks, aspiring himself to become a top racing manager. His humorous personality and dedication strengthen team bonds and Capeta's resolve.[21]Supporting characters
Monami Suzuki serves as Capeta's childhood friend and a subtle romantic interest, offering emotional support and a sense of normalcy amid his racing pursuits. She frequently appears in scenes depicting school life and home interactions, where her aggressive yet caring personality shines through as she cheers on Capeta and his team.[22] Nanako Minamoto is the mother of rival Naomi Minamoto and the manager of the Endless Autohouse team, adding depth to the Minamoto family dynamic by appearing in team settings and family moments that humanize her son's competitive world. She occasionally extends support to Capeta, impressed by his talent and secretly viewing him as a potential rival for her son.[23] Sarukki, Capeta's pet monkey, symbolizes companionship and brings lighthearted moments to the story, such as during kart testing mishaps, while serving as the team's unofficial mascot; originally named Reinhardt III by a previous owner, he was renamed by Capeta.[24] Other minor rivals present episodic challenges to Capeta with their distinct racing styles, pushing him to refine his skills in one-off races without becoming central antagonists.Manga
Publication and serialization
Capeta was written and illustrated by Masahito Soda, a Japanese manga artist previously known for his award-winning series Firefighter! Daigo of Fire Company M, which earned the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1997.[25] The series debuted as a serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine, targeting a shōnen demographic of boys aged 12 to 18, with black-and-white installments published monthly and emphasizing intricate illustrations of motorsport scenes.[1] The manga began serialization in the March 2003 issue of the magazine and continued for a decade, concluding in the April 2013 issue after 117 chapters collected across 32 volumes.[10] During its run, Capeta achieved notable milestones, including the 2005 Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category, which highlighted its appeal amid the ongoing serialization.[4] The narrative progressed through detailed depictions of karting and higher-level racing, culminating in a complete resolution of the protagonist's Formula racing storyline without unresolved plot threads.[10]Volumes and chapters
The Capeta manga was compiled into 32 tankōbon volumes published by Kodansha, spanning from October 2003 to May 2013.[26] The series consists of 117 chapters originally serialized in Monthly Shōnen Magazine, with volumes grouping chapters that advance the core narrative of Capeta's racing journey without including side stories or filler content.[10] In 2024, Kodansha began releasing a new edition of the series, starting with volume 1 on December 17, 2024.[27] The early volumes (1–10) encompass the first arc, depicting Capeta's introduction to kart racing during his ages 10–11 and emphasizing foundational skills and local competitions through chapters 1–approximately 40. For instance, Volume 1, released on October 16, 2003, opens with Capeta's initial race and kart assembly, setting the stage for his passion.[26] These volumes build conceptual understanding of racing mechanics and personal growth, averaging 4–5 chapters each to maintain pacing in the monthly serialization format.[1] Volumes 11–20 cover the second arc at age 14, shifting to national-level events in chapters roughly 41–80, where deeper technical explorations of strategy and vehicle tuning emerge in later groupings. This period highlights escalating rivalries and skill refinement, with chapters per volume similarly structured around 4–5 to allow detailed race depictions.[28] The later volumes (21–32) conclude the third arc at age 16, encompassing chapters 81–117 and focusing on high-stakes international aspirations, culminating in the Suzuki Cup tournament. Volume 32, released May 17, 2013, wraps the primary storyline with resolution of Capeta's arcs, containing chapters 115–117 as a representative example of the condensed 3-chapter format in final volumes.[26] Overall, the compilation prioritizes sequential plot progression, with no deviations into ancillary narratives across the 32 volumes.[10]Anime adaptation
Production
The anime adaptation of Capeta was produced by Studio Comet.[5] Directed by Shin Misawa, the series featured series composition by Tsutomu Kamishiro.[5] Key staff included character designer Tadayoshi Okimura, who also served as chief animation director, and art director Kazuhiro Takahashi.[29] The production adapted the manga by Masahito Soda, spanning 52 episodes that depict the protagonist's early experiences in kart racing.[5] Toshiyuki Toyonaga provided the voice for Capeta during his middle school years, succeeding Naoto Adachi for the elementary school segments.[5] The adaptation maintains fidelity to the manga's key events while incorporating minor pacing modifications to suit the episodic television format.[5]Broadcast and episodes
The Capeta anime adaptation aired on TV Tokyo from October 4, 2005, to September 26, 2006, spanning 52 episodes broadcast weekly on Tuesdays at 18:00 JST.[5] It was also simulcast on affiliate networks including TV Osaka, TV Setouchi, TV Hokkaido, Aichi Television Broadcasting, BS Japan, and AT-X.[5] Each episode runs approximately 24 minutes, structured to fit a standard half-hour television slot excluding commercials.[5] The series is organized into three distinct arcs that parallel the manga's progression through the protagonist's development, with the first arc (episodes 1–24) depicting events at age 10, the second arc (episodes 25–38) at age 14, and the third arc (episodes 39–52) at age 16.[30] The initial arc establishes the fundamentals of kart racing as the young protagonist enters the sport. The middle arc shifts emphasis to competitive tournaments and skill refinement during adolescence. The final arc escalates tension through high-stakes races, concluding partway through the source material's narrative to leave room for future adaptations.[30] In Japan, the series received a home video release on DVD by Avex, distributed across 13 volumes containing four episodes each, starting in early 2006 and completing in 2007.[31] At the time of its original broadcast, no official international simulcast or licensing was available outside Japan.[5] As of November 2025, the series is available for streaming on platforms such as Plex internationally and Pluto TV in Spain.[32][5]Music
Opening themes
The Capeta anime adaptation features two opening themes.[5] The first opening theme, "Never Ever," is performed by Tsubasa Imai and aired from episodes 1 to 35.[5] The second opening theme, "Doukasen" (導火線), is by the band BAZRA and was used for episodes 36 to 52.[5]Ending themes
The Capeta anime adaptation employs four distinct ending themes.[5]| # | Title | Artist | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bokura (僕ら) | BAZRA | 1–14 |
| 2 | Nana Navigation (ナナナビゲーション) | Nanase Hoshii (星井七瀬) | 15–32 |
| 3 | Here we go! | Missile Innovation | 33–43 |
| 4 | My Star | Mika Kikuchi (菊地美香) | 44–52 |