Drifting is the street-racing technique central to The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Drifting involves intentionally causing a car to slide through a corner while the driver maintains control, typically balancing steering, throttle, and the vehicle’s rotation. In the film, Sean Boswell learns the technique from Han Lue and later develops his own skill under instruction from Takashi, known as the Drift King.
The movie uses drifting as both a driving style and a measure of status within Tokyo’s underground racing scene. Its title directly refers to this focus, distinguishing the film from earlier entries that emphasized drag racing and straight-line acceleration.
Drifting is not the same as drafting. Drafting means following closely behind another vehicle to reduce aerodynamic drag, while a burnout spins the tires without describing the controlled cornering technique shown in Tokyo Drift.