Naganori Ito

is a Japanese automotive engineer, and was responsible for the development of the eighth generation R32 Nissan Skyline including the BNR32 Skyline GT-R.

History

Early years Ito was born in Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture on March 7, 1937 as a son of a rice store owner. He graduated from Hiroshima University in March 1959 and joined Fuji Precision Industries (later Prince Motor Company). In April 1959, he was assigned to the development of the chassis of the first and the second generation Skylines ALSI and S50. After the merger of Prince and Nissan, he was involved in the development of Skyline series, Laurel and Leopard F30. After January 1982, he became the chief engineer of Nissan Prairie (M10) and Nissan March (Micra) K10.

Appointed the Skyline chief engineer In 1984, Shinichiro Sakurai, Ito’s longtime “teacher” since he joined Fuji Precision/Prince, became ill and had to stay at the hospital for a while. Sakurai’s “No. 1 student” Ito was suddenly assigned to complete the design of the seventh generation R31 Skyline which Sakurai was responsible for. But the only thing Ito did about the R31 was preparing and submitting the model registration documents to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

In August 1985, the new R31 Skyline (so-called the “7th Skyline” in Japan) debuted, but it got a bad reputation from longtime Skyline users, the Skyline maniacs, and car critics in Japan. Sakurai-san was examining me if I could overcome any kinds of difficulties he assigns. I heard that a lion parent kicks the children down into the abyss of a ravine, and brings up the kids who can climb up. The “Sakurai School” was just like a “Lion School”.