Not too long ago, Nissan was on the verge of becoming one of Honda’s subsidiaries, owing to the company’s financial struggles as sales continue to decline. This Nissan-Honda merger talks has not come to fruition as of this writing.

Now, despite the struggles Nissan is facing, it was still able to collaborate (aka spend) on a project about making knives—sushi knives, to be exact.

Nissan Design of America, in collaboration with Miami-based sushi master chef Hiroyuki “Chef Hiro” Terada and legendary knifemaker Kiryu, created the Z NISMO Precision Sushi Knife.

According to Nissan, there are 3 qualities that define both the Nissan Z and the centuries-old tradition of Japanese knifemaking: precision, performance, and expertise. Nissan is honoring that shared quality with the Z NISMO Precision Sushi Knife.

“I designed this knife with an image of the Z NISMO always in my head,” said Satoshi Kiryu, principal knifemaker at Kiryu. His grandfather founded the company in 1927, and for nearly five decades, he has continued that legacy of excellence.

The kiritsuke-style design was drawn by Kiryu, who laser-cut each blade with meticulous attention to detail. “I always try to design a knife making the best use of the materials,” said Kiryu, who has been working at Kiryu for 48 years.

After the knives are cut, he quenches, tempers, grinds, and polishes each one. The knife’s kuro zome (black-dyed) finish is then applied using an oxide film on stainless steel. Finally, the handle is fitted, and the knife is sharpened to perfection.

“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,” added Kiryu.

Only 240 examples

While the average person might underestimate their importance, these knives represent a chef’s very existence.

“A chef is only as good as their knife,” says master sushi chef Hiroyuki Terada. “A handcrafted kiritsuke-style knife like this one allows us to elevate our craft to the highest level possible. Whether you’re a professional chef or a passionate home cook, you’ll immediately feel the quality in your hand.”

A tribute to the 240Z, the Z NISMO Precision Sushi Knife is limited to 240 pieces, each featuring a red-engraved blade number, Z logo, Chef Hiro’s signature, and Kiryu’s insignia. The knife is packaged in a black-lacquered box, a collaboration between Nissan Design America, Chef Hiro, and Kiryu, with external Nissan and Chef Hiro branding and an internal print showcasing six generations of Z logos.

Celebrating cultural collaboration and Nissan’s racing heritage, the limited-time Z NISMO Precision Sushi Knife is priced at USD 300.23 (roughly PHP 17,300) and is exclusively available on the NISMO Parts website. Nissan will also donate to the Japan-America Society of Tennessee.