Rin Houjou—known as "Shinigami"—is one of Kanagawa's most legendary drivers and Gou's older brother. He's best known for his intense rivalry with Ryousuke, which started over a girl named Kaori, who was supposed to be Rin's arranged fiancée at the time.
The rivalry took a dark turn when Kaori committed suicide after Rin verbally abused her, telling her she'd regret rejecting him and that her whole family would be ruined. That tragedy pretty much ended Rin's racing career. He withdrew from the scene entirely, becoming a recluse and locking himself away for years.
He made a shocking comeback eventually, racing unofficially against Ikeda, Team Spiral's leader. As a driver, Rin is genuinely exceptional—fans often note his aggressive, almost reckless style behind the wheel, which is part of what makes him so dangerous on the road.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
