IRVINE, Calif. - In Japan, the term takumi is used to describe a master craftsman who has perfected his skills over years of painstaking work and dedication. It is reserved for those who are at the very top of their profession. At Nissan's expansive engine factory in Yokohama, four men have been designated as takumi. They are the sole assemblers of the engines that power one of the most heralded sports cars in automotive history.

The four takumi of Nissan's Yokohama plant are Takumi Kurosawa, Tsunemi Ooyama, Izumi Shioya and Nobumitsu Gozu. Collectively, they share over 100 years of exceptional work in their chosen field. These engine craftsmen are responsible for hand-building every awe-inspiring 545-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 engines found beneath the hood of the Nissan GT-R, production vehicles and the racecars alike. Each engine is assembled with care and precision by one of these four individuals.

Once an engine is completed, the takumi craftsman proudly mounts a plaque bearing his name upon the completed masterpiece, serving as a timeless reminder of the high level of craftsmanship and expertise that went into each work.

Many Nissan GT-R owners have visited the Yokohama plant and to meet the takumi engine-builder who hand-assembled their Nissan GT-R's engine. Even popular American late-night television talk show host and car collector/aficionado Jay Leno has made the trip to the plant to meet the takumi.

Nissan's Yokohama plant is a model of both technology and efficiency within the industry. In its nearly eight decades in existence, it has produced more than 35 million engines, including the exceptionally-capable VR38 that powers the legendary Nissan GT-R high-performance sports car.

"Yokohama is the plant where our company was established, and we're proud to make Nissan's flagship engine here. It represents the pinnacle of the Nissan brand," said Nobuhiro Ozawa, Yokohama plant manager. "We adhere the nameplates of the takumi who hand-built these engines and put their souls into each one with a sense of responsibility."

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

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For more information, contact:

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Global Communications Div.

Tel:+81-(0)45-523-5552 (Corporate)

Tel:+81-(0)45-523-5549 (Product)

Tel:+81-(0)50-3804-7182 (IR)

http://www.nissan-newsroom.com/EN/ (For media)

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/ (For IR)