Megalopolis Expressway Trial

Megalopolis Expressway Trial , Shuto ksoku toraiaru? is the original title of a series of six Japanese films, about illegal highway racing in the Shuto Expressway, released between 1988 and 1996. An English subtitled version of the films series renamed Freeway Speedway was released on DVD in North America in 2004 due to commercial success of popular Hollywood films like The Fast and The Furious before there was The Fast And The Furious, there was Freeway Speedway is a quote appearing on the fourth DVD. A 4disc rerelease of the 2004 edition was made available in 2007, it was renamed Tokyo Speedway The Complete Collection. Though also available in Hong Kong, the DVD edition was not released in Japan since the series is still banned and the last episode unreleased yet.

The first film, produced by Nikkatsu, was banned from release in Japan in cinema, due to its content. When racing driver and former street racer Keiichi Tsuchiya came on hand from the first sequel, it had adopted an anti street racing message, therefore avoiding a ban. The series became a semi biographical piece about him, partially about his experience as a hashiriya native term for street racer and that when he quit to go professional racing.The series following the first film, were released under the Toei Companys VCinema line, meaning that they were all released directtovideo. These films are believed to have influenced popular franchises including local video games OutRun, Ridge Racer series and Shutok Battle series the name shutok battle is a dialogue line in the fourth film as well as comic books like Wangan Midnight. ........

Source: Wikipedia