Kakkoi Teppodama

Kakkoi Teppodama is a villainous character from the Speed Racer film. He also makes an appearance in the PlayStation 2 version of the videogame.

Appearance[]

Kakkoi is a Yakuza-themed Japanese racer with platinum blonde spiky hair and a body covered by tatoos. He wears an outfit inspired by the painting "The Great Wave off Kanagawa".^[1] During the race, he wears a blue helmet.

Background[]

Kakkoi is the main racing driver of Musha Motors, one of the most prestigious companies of the movie. He is featured in the Grand Prix, serving as one of the main antagonists in that race.

He is first seen shaving in the locker room, looking menacingly at Speed. He is later seen at the starting line posing for the camera, but still with his eyes locked on Racer. At the beginning of the Grand Prix race, he's only seen briefly at the Zebra Halls, where he bumps Speed as soon as he sees him, speeding away afterwards and leaving him for the other racers to deal with.

Near the end, he's seen in 1st place followed by the Grey Ghost. Speed arrives and starts a battle for the top spot with the two. Speed attaches the Mach 6's jump jacks to the Seppuku and the Fumée, and swings both together, destroying them at the same time. Kakkoi is saved by his Kwik-Save device, but is disqualified from the race.

Videogame[]

In the videogame, he looks notably different, having an older appearance and having black hair with a mustache. His ally is Scooter Dickey and his rival is Sweet-Tooth Jangala.

Quotes[]

Being Slipstreamed[]

"You incense me with your theft!"
"Behind me is where you belong."
"I'm going to teach you a lesson later."
"Riding on other's glory is shameful."
"This will not help you enough to win!"

Being Overtaken[]

"You have the advantage, for now."
"Haaaih!"
"I will not let you humiliate me like this!"
"Grrrrr!"
"How dare you challenge me!"

Slipstreaming the Player[]

"I take now what is rightfully mine."
"I'm gonna blow past you!"
"Time for me to rock and you to roll."
"You give me what I need to win!"
"Happiness is a warm slipstream."

Overtaking the Player[]

"Advantage is mine!"
"I can overcome any obstacle!"
"Honor and glory have graced me!"
"Good fortune abounds!!"
"Do not be sad, my victory honors you as well."

Rival Takes First[]

"You seize the moment but I will not relent."
"The road is mine. You are all just guests."
"Nothing in the world can stop me!"
"I deserve to win! Let me prove it."
"My style is the best style."

Car-Fu Battle Lost[]

"I will be repaired in no time!"
"No!"
"Woah... the world is spinning..."
"At least I go out fighting!"
"I cannot accept such disgrace."

Car-Fu Battle Won[]

"Your pocketbook will struggle with that damage!"
"You don't deserve my pity."
"High and mighty, I take you down!"
"No mercy. Mercy is for the weak."
"I drove right over your hopes and dreams."

Race Won[]

"Ah! My resources were sufficient."
"I made it look easy."
"Winner, and champion!"
"I am winner, all are all losers."
"Luck and skill combined, and here I am."

Alliance Broken[]

"There will be a cost for this action!"
"You will pay for this betrayal."
"How do you expect to gain trust this way?"
"All my dreams shaken, but not broken."
"I will return the wrong you have done."

Refusing Alliance[]

"The profit would be small. I must refuse."
"You are not an honorable racer."
"I would rather not."
"My family would not approve of such an alliance."
"You are not worthy."

Accepting Alliance[]

"There is much profit in this."
"It is an honor to race beside you."
"Our fates shall be intertwined."
"As allies, our victory is assured."
"This decision you will not regret."

Offering Alliance[]

"We could both gain from co-operation."
"I offer you the hand of friendship."
"You and me - team supreme. You in?"
"Your support will ensure my victory."
"I want to ally with you."

Character Selected (unused)[]

"For honor!"
"For glory!"
"Blam bam bazam!"

Car-Fu Battle (unused)[]

"I will break your bank."
"OK - Teach me something."
"Blam bam bazam!"
"I will destroy you."
"You have chosen a great opponent!"

Alliance Broken by CPU (unused)[]

"Our alliance now ends."
"Now we must face each other."
"I now see you are the true challenge."
"It's like a dance, time to change partners."
"You have much still to learn."

Trivia[]

He is listed in the film's credits as "Yakuza Driver".
He is named "Kakkoi Teppodama" in the Grand Prix racer list, the videogame, and the official novel adaptation of the movie.^[2]
He is listed in the Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family's credits as "Katsu Teppodama".^[3]
- In the movie, right after Speed destroys several cars at the Zebra Halls, the announcer says: "Speed Racer blows by Katsu Teppodama, charging into the Moguls". However, in reality he did not pass the Seppuku's driver at that moment, if that's who the announcer meant.
Kakkoi's first name is incorrectly spelled, as the correct spelling of the word is "Kakkoii." The game's credits and the novel spell it correctly.
"Kakkoii" is Japanese for "cool" or "handsome", while "Teppodama" is a Yakuza term which literally translates to "rifle ball", as all followers are teppodama, bullets to be fired by their boss. The bullet does not think of itself; it is simply aimed and released.
In the movie's script, Kakkoi has a removed scene where he attempts to assassinate Speed in the locker room with a razor blade, before being cut-off by Grey Ghost, who starts a conversation with Speed.^[4]
The reason for the striking change in his appearance between the film and the videogame is most likely because the art from the game was based on Alice Ebling's work (the person responsible for the costume illustrations). Kakkoi in her original art looks remarkably similar to the one from the game.
The unused quote from the videogame "Blam bam bazam!" may be based on Joon Park's "BAM!!!" catchphrase, which originates from comic book effects.