List of Initial D Characters and Teams - Teams - Purple Shadow - Kozo Hoshino

Kozo Hoshino

Kozo Hoshino (星野 好造, Hoshino Kōzō?) is one of the two leaders of Purple Shadow, known by the name of God Foot (ゴッドフット, Goddo Futto?) due to his extraordinary acceleration control (he has the ability to drift a Skyline GT-R with the ATTESA-ETS AWD system activated, which is considered almost impossible). He shouts exclamations during a race in order to keep himself from over-concentrating. If he becomes silent and concentrates too hard, he will drive without braking. He races Keisuke Takahashi in a full lap (uphill and downhill) battle, demonstrating his sense of fairness, as the FD3S would have no chance against the GT-R Nür uphill. He has owned a total of 4 GT-Rs: an R32, an R33 in which he was disappointed with, another R32, and finally the R34 in which he uses in the race against Project D. He displays incredible control of his accelerator and brake pedals, but his heavier car is chased down by Keisuke's lighter FD in the first run although it barely wins the first run. The second run displays Hoshino's cunning as he overtakes Keisuke on the uphill/downhill pylon, though his heavier GT-R begins losing traction. Keisuke's doggedness inspires Hoshino to initiate a drift battle which make his tires suffer even more. Near the goal line, Hoshino drifts too far because of his tires, allowing Keisuke to attempt to pass him on the outside. Although Hoshino's weaker tires made him bump Keisuke slightly, the FD pulled out in front and finished the second round in the lead. Hoshino conceded the match as his traction was now not enough to win another run.

After his race with Keisuke, he offers to introduce him to his professional racing contacts. Keisuke refuses the offer, as he has unfinished business he wishes to take care of first. Although he lost, his time attack record still remains unbeaten, even by Keisuke no matter how hard he tried.

His last name may be a nod to Kazuyoshi Hoshino, a professional race driver known for driving Skylines and other Nissans in several major Japanese circuits, and the founder of Impul.