Shinichiro Sakurai

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In this Japanese name, the family name is "Sakurai".
Shinichiro Sakurai
桜井 眞一郎
Born (1929-04-03)3 April 1929
Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Died 17 January 2011(2011-01-17) (aged 81)
Setagaya, Tokyo
Nationality Japanese
Education Yokohama National University
Engineering career
Significant projects Nissan Skyline
Significant awards Japan Automotive Hall of Fame (2005)

Shinichiro Sakurai (桜井 眞一郎 Sakurai Shin'ichirō, 1929-2011) was a Japanese engineer inducted into the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame[1] who originally worked for Prince Motor Company then later moved to Nissan. After graduating from Yokohama National University, Sakurai worked for the Shimizu Corporation before he was given the opportunity to work in the Japanese automotive industry,which was his first intent. He later joined Prince as a chassis engineer in 1952, and was heavily involved in the development of the first generation Nissan Skyline (also called the Prince Skyline). He continued to head the Nissan Skyline project long after the Nissan takeover, headed the Nissan MID4 project, and was appointed President of Autech (a Nissan subsidiary) in 1986. He continued to work in the automotive field up until his death.[2]

Sakurai died of heart failure on January 17, 2011.[3][4]


Quotes from Naganori Ito

Words from Naganori Ito, one of Sakurai's apprentices.

  • During my Prince years, I learned what the Prince Motors spirit is from many people. Especially from Mr. Jiro Tanaka, who supervised the Prince Engineering Department, and from Mr. Shinichiro Sakurai, who was my direct boss.[5]
  • 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”. [5]

Death

Shinichiro Sakurai died in a heart failure on January 17, 2011.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The History and the Biography of Shinichiro Sakurai (Japanese) - Japan Automotive Hall of Fame
  2. ↑ Sakurai and the Skyline
  3. ↑ 桜井真一郎氏死去 Jiji Tsushin January 20, 2011
  4. ↑ Shinichiro Sakurai, Father of the Skyline, 1929-2011 japanesenostalgiccar.com January 23, 2011
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 ITO, Naganori “Pursue the Run – the Development of the R32 Skyline GT-R” P17 April 18, 2005, Grand Prix Publishing Co., Ltd. (Japanese) ISBN 4-87687-270-8
This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Japanese Wikipedia.
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