The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 action film directed by Justin Lin, with a screenplay by Chris Morgan. It is the third installment in the Fast & Furious franchise and stars Lucas Black, Sung Kang, Bow Wow, and Brian Tee. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift follows high school car enthusiast Sean Boswell (Black), who is sent to live in Tokyo with his father, and finds solace in the city's drifting community.

Lin was hired as director due to his work in Better Luck Tomorrow (2002).Unable to secure the returns of any of the series' original cast members, plans were made by developers to reconsider Tokyo Drift and make it a distinct entry in the franchise, which was achieved by focusing on a car subgenre, incorporating a location outside the United States, and establishing new characters. Subsequently, the chronological timeline of the franchise shifted, with all future installments until Furious 7 (2015) being set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and Tokyo Drift.

The film also marks the first to begin the franchise's longtime association with Lin and Morgan, as well as composer Brian Tyler; Lin went onto direct the following three sequels (and is attached to direct two additional future films), while Morgan wrote the next five installments. Tyler would go on to score 4 of the 5 following sequels. Casting began in April 2005, and principal photography began in Los Angeles in August 2005, with the majority of the film being shot in Tokyo.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift was released in the United States on June 16, 2006. The film received mixed reviews and grossed $159 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing film in the franchise.

In Oro Valley, Arizona, troubled high school student Sean Boswell and athlete Clay race their cars to win the affections of Clay's girlfriend Cindy. When Sean cuts through a structure and catches up to Clay, Clay hits Sean's car repeatedly until they reach a high-speed turn, which causes both cars to crash; Sean's car is totaled. Clay and Cindy's wealthy families help them escape punishment, but because Sean is a repeat offender, he is sent to live in Tokyo, Japan with his father, a U.S. Navy officer stationed in Tokyo, in order to avoid juvenile detention or jail.

While in Tokyo, Sean befriends Twinkie, a military brat who introduces him to the world of drift racing in Japan. Sean has a confrontation with Takashi—the Drift King (DK)—over Sean talking to Takashi's girlfriend, Neela. Though barred from driving, Sean decides to race against Takashi, who has ties to the Yakuza, but loses his first race with Takashi due to his unfamiliarity with drifting.

To repay his debt for the car he destroyed, Sean agrees to work for Han. This leads to the duo becoming friends, with Han agreeing to teach Sean how to drift, explaining that he is helping him as Sean is the only person willing to stand up to Takashi. Sean moves in with Han and soon masters drifting, gaining respect after defeating DK's right-hand man, Morimoto. Sean soon asks Neela out on a date, and learns that after her mother died, she moved in with Takashi's grandmother, which resulted in their relationship. An enraged Takashi beats Sean up the next day, telling him to stay away from Neela; Neela subsequently leaves Takashi and moves in with Sean and Han.

Takashi's uncle Kamata, the head of the Yakuza, reprimands Takashi for allowing Han to steal from him. Takashi and Morimoto confront Han, Sean, and Neela about the thefts. Twinkie causes a distraction, allowing Han, Sean, and Neela to flee, who are then pursued by Takashi and Morimoto. During the chase, Morimoto is killed in a crash, leaving Takashi to pursue the trio on his own. Han allows Sean to overtake him in order to hold Takashi off, but the chase ends when Sean and Neela crash. Meanwhile, moments after escaping from Takashi, Han's car is t-boned,[N 1] and the car explodes before Sean has a chance to save Han.

Takashi, Sean, and his father become involved in an armed standoff which is resolved by Neela agreeing to leave with Takashi. Sean's father prepares to send him back but Sean pleads him to let him fix his own mess. His father then agrees and makes amends with him. Twinkie gives his money to Sean to replace the money Han stole from Takashi, which Sean then returns to Kamata. Sean proposes a race against Takashi, with the loser having to leave Tokyo. Kamata agrees to the challenge, but on the condition that the race take place on a mountain, revealed to be the mountain where Takashi himself is the only person to make it down successfully.

That night, on the mountain, crowds gather to see the race; Takashi takes the lead initially, but Sean's training allows him to catch up. Determined to win, Takashi resorts to ramming Sean's car, eventually missing and driving off the mountain while Sean crosses the finish line. Kamata keeps his word, and lets Sean remain in Tokyo and is now christened the new Drift King. Some time later, Neela, Twinkie, and Sean are enjoying themselves in their newfound homeplace and freedom. An American racer shows up to challenge Sean, and he accepts after the American proclaims himself as Han's family.

After this film, three prequels, Fast & Furious (2009), Fast Five (2011), and Fast & Furious 6 (2013) established Han Lue with the main characters before he settled in Tokyo. Han's explosive car crash was revisited in post-credits scene of Fast & Furious 6, introducing Deckard Shaw, portrayed by Jason Statham, as the other driver, setting up Furious 7 (2015). Lucas Black returned appearing briefly in Furious 7.[9] Black, alongside Sung Kang, Bow Wow, and Jason Tobin, have been cast in F9 (2021).

Lucas Black as Sean Boswell,

Sung Kang as Han Lue

Bow Wow as Twinkie,

Brian Tee as Takashi,

Nathalie Kelley as Neela,

Sonny Chiba as Kamata,

Leonardo Nam as Morimoto,

Brian Goodman as Major Boswell,

Zachery Ty Bryan as Clay,

Lynda Boyd as Ms. Boswell,

Jason Tobin as Earl Hu, .

Keiko Kitagawa as Reiko,

Nikki Griffin as Cindy,

Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto (uncredited cameo)

Sean Boswell, a young man interested in street racing.

Han Lue, DK's business partner and old friend of Dominic Toretto, who befriends Sean and teaches him how to drift.

Twinkie, Sean's first friend he meets in Tokyo and who sells various consumer goods and introduces Sean to drift racing.

Takashi, Sean's enemy who is acknowledged as the best drift racer and given the title "Drift King", or simply "D.K.".

Neela, Takashi's girlfriend who later falls for Sean.

Kamata, Takashi's uncle who is the head of the Yakuza.

Morimoto, Takashi's close friend and right-hand man.

Major Boswell, Sean's father. Sean goes to live with in Tokyo.

Clay, the quarterback of Sean's school whom Sean races at the beginning of the film.

Ms. Boswell, Sean's mother who fed up with moving her and Sean around, sends him to Tokyo, Japan to live with his father.

Earl Hu, one of Han's friends in Tokyo.

Reiko, Earl's friend.

Cindy, Clay's girlfriend, who suggests that Clay and Sean race to win her.

Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto (uncredited cameo)