If you go to the Nissan Nismo parts and accessories website, you’ll see you can order brakes, exhaust hardware, suspension components, and much more to upgrade your Z. Got a Titan? Choose from the Nismo Off Road selection of parts. You can also represent the brand by wearing Nismo-branded clothing and hats. If you look hard enough, you’ll see that Nissan also offers a Z Nismo Precision Sushi Knife.
To create this unusual lifestyle accessory, Nissan Design America collaborated with Chef Hiroyuki “Chef Hiro” Terada and Japanese knifemaker Kiryu. Satoshi Kiryu, principal knifemaker, was a natural fit for the project in more than one way. Not only has he been working for 48 years at the company his grandfather started in 1927, but he’s also a big Z fan. “When I was a kid, the Fairlady Z was my favorite car, especially the 240Z. It was such a cool-looking car,” Kiryu said. “Today, we have a new Z that reminds me of the first Z’s design. When Nissan approached me for this project, I was so happy.”
After laser-cutting each 8.27-inch, double-beveled blade, Kiryu quenches, tempers, grinds, and polishes it. Using oxide film on stainless steel, he then applies a kuro zome (black-dyed) finish. Once the blade is attached to its buffalo horn handle, Kiryu begins one of the most significant parts of the construction sequence. “Sharpening is the step in the process that demands the most attention – you must balance the amount of steel on each side of the blade. If not balanced, the blade is not symmetrical.”
Each knife has an obvious visual connection to Nismo and the new Z as a whole. According to Nissan Stories, “Crisp lines conjure images of Z’s iconic silhouette, mirroring the katana (samurai sword)-inspired silver roof accent that emphasizes the car’s side profile. The striking red spacer on the buffalo horn handle reflects the unmistakable red accents exclusive to the NISMO edition’s bodywork.”
Just like the Z, the Z Nismo Precision Sushi Knife has a function to its form. Chef Hiro, a Miami-based chef who is known on YouTube for his sushi creations, insisted on making a knife specifically for sushi as opposed to a multipurpose piece. The end result is a handcrafted knife, each one individually marked, with the blade number engraved in red. In addition to the Z logo, there’s also Chef Hiro’s signature and Kiryu’s insignia. The outside of each knife’s black-lacquered box wears the Nissan logo as well as Chef Hiro’s name; inside the lid is a visual history of the Z logo going all the way back to 1969, when the first model came out.
So how much is the Z Nismo Precision Sushi Knife? We’ll cut to the chase: Only 240 will be produced and it’ll cost $300.23 to get one. Does that seem a little steep? Don’t worry. You can’t get one anyway because they’re all sold out.
