The anime is named after its main character, Taira Capeta, a fourth grader who has spent much of his life alone.

Capeta lost his mother when he was very young and his father works extra shifts as road worker so that they can make ends meet.

While his father is out, Capeta cleans the apartment, washes the clothes and cooks meals for himself and his father.

Although he puts on a brave face, Capeta is very lonely. He has never asked his father for toys, but one day his father sees him looking longingly at a Formula One racing car in a shop window. He buys the car for his son.

While on a job at a go-kart track, Capeta's father realises his son was interested in racing, not the toy car. At the track, he finds a number of battered parts and old tyres and, using what little spare time he has, begins repairing an old go-kart. He hopes the kart will make his son happy.

Not long after, Capeta finds the finished vehicle with his name painted on the side. He takes it to a nearby hill and starts racing down the slope again and again. Capeta's long journey to become a race-car driver has begun.

This is a great anime that shows personal growth in all the main characters. The film shows the importance of friendship and makes it clear that we all need a helping hand in life.