“Mr. K.,” Who Launched Nissan in U.S., Dies at 105

Yutaka Katayama, credited with establishing Nissan Motor Co.'s presence in the U.S. more than 50 years ago, has died of heart failure at age 105.

Katayama turned an exiled post in the U.S. in 1960 into a triumph by badgering the company to polish its Datsun brand with higher-quality Americanized cars, notably the 510 sedan and 240Z sports car.

Known as "Mr. K," the savvy and effervescent Katayama became the first president of Nissan's U.S. operations in 1965. He retired in 1977. Until recently he continued to attend Datsun fan club events.

Katayama also continued as a critic of the company, complaining when Nissan dropped the Datsun brand and more recently when it decided to relocate its U.S. headquarters from California to Tennessee.