The Legendary Smokey Nagata
Within the sphere of Japanese domestic market vehicle tuning, few names carry as much weight as the legendary Kazuhiko Nagata, also known as Smokey Nagata.
Since 2001, Nagata has commanded the spotlight, spearheading advancements in JDM tuning and performance component developments earning him global recognition.
His work encompasses both performance part and software innovations alongside aesthetic enhancements making the machines he creates hand crafted and exceedingly valuable.
Nagata, 57, is a short, slim-built man often seen clad in a baggy attire, a cigarette always within reach and his favourite Shiner Bock beer in hand. Nagata’s laid-back demeanor is paradoxically unhurried. A man who has devoted his life to speed, but as a legendary craftsman is in no rush for anyone, as he declares ‘perfection cannot be hurried’.
Nagata’s story begins in the serene and pastoral landscape of Hokkaido, where he and his parents worked a family farm. His early years were marked by a love for machines and It was during these humble beginnings that his love for speed was ignited.
Nagata first experienced the thrill of the accelerator pedal while driving the family farm truck. Off-road driving on the farm laid the groundwork for his experimental driving skills, as his interest in machines grew alongside his daily chores. He quickly progressed to a motorbike, and eventually as the limitations of the machine beneath him had been reached, he move onto a go-kart.
At 16, Nagata acquired a Mitsubishi Galant GTO. With the help of a local Toyota executive, he customised the car with overfenders, a feature that would become a hallmark of his future masterpieces. Speed hungry and having acquired his fastest mechanical companion to date, a young Nagata quickly ran into misschief resulting in him being expelled from school for wreckless driving. The exact stunt that led to his dismissal is unknown, but with our current understanding of his driving habits, the possibilities ignite the imagination.
Determined to turn his passion into a profession, Nagata sought a job at Toyota, reaching out to the technician who had previously helped in his GTO overfender project. He secured a job as a mechanic, but after a brief two-year stint, Nagata was fired for tuning his GTO during work hours. This abrupt dismissal inspired his next move. With a lifelong ambition of becoming a racing driver, moving closer to the action seemed like a natural progression. Nagata journeyed to Tokyo, where he found employment at Trust, the company behind the renowned American performance parts brand, Greddy. Progression in his pursuit for performance was however humbling as Nagata’s first role in the business was packaging turbo’s and exhausts, for 10 hours a day. Before too long, Nagata’s skill in tuning and performance part production caught the attention of senior management. His talent propelled him into the race team, where he specialised in tuning and performance part manufacturing.
Here, Nagata started machining his own components after hours, selling them to friends and responding to word-of-mouth inquiries from enthusiasts eager to enhance their seemingly modest Japanese family cars. His skill was undeniable, but his side hustle was unconcealable and soon his His superiors started to raise concerns about his off-hours part projects. After weighing up their options, the race team decided Nagata’s talents were required to win races and so decided to turn a blind eye to his after-hours tuning projects, which they whimsically christened “Top Secret.”
As tuning projects developed and word spread of the talents previously concealed, profitable trading encouraged Nagata to leave his role in the race team and start officially trading. The business name? ‘Top Secret’, a nod to his superiors that were willing to assist their apprentice along his passionate mission. Officially established in 1991 in Chiba, Top Secret quickly gained a reputation for high-performance tuning and innovative engineering. Nagata’s expertise in making racing parts helped Top Secret carve out a niche in the competitive world of automotive tuning.
In addition to software development, Nagata’s business excelled in custom part production, propelling Top Secret components to heights that competitors couldn’t match in their rush to mass-produce. Here, it was the artistry and dedication to quality that prevailed over quantity, infusing each creation with a unique sense of excellence. Nagata didn’t succumb to the pressure of churning out mass-produced parts; he cherished his craft and preferred to focus on creating one masterpiece at a time, meticulously balancing every aspect of the cars he worked on. This approach allowed him to craft superior parts that were sought after by true enthusiasts seeking even the slightest performance gains from their machines.
For six remarkable years, Nagata carved out a distinctive niche in the tuning market. His Development cars, resplendent in gleaming gold vinyl, became icons of automotive extravagance, pushing boundaries and exploring limits with each daring drive. Their radiant presence turned heads worldwide, captivating enthusiasts and onlookers alike with their audacious style and relentless pursuit of performance perfection.
In 1998, Nagata’s tuning fame skyrocketed after a daring high-speed run on the A1 road in the UK. Following a showcase of his RB26DETT-powered Supra at a motor show, Nagata embarked on a quest to test its limits on the open road, aiming to break the 200 mph barrier. Despite falling slightly short and reaching 194 mph, his endeavors garnered significant attention. As he spun in every gear up to 5th at 130 mph, the cold, wet A1 bore witness to 4 speed run attempts that resulted in a jail sentence with British authorities. Yet, this was a small price to pay for an escapade that transformed Nagata into an international celebrity who was dubbed “Smokey Nagata” for his unwavering penchant for tire-spinning on every attempt of his iconic A1 speed runs.
As the saying goes, “Fame fosters fortune.” The Supra, immortalised in this incident, was later sold to a Middle Eastern collector for an unknown but presumably substantial sum of money. This windfall enabled Smokey Nagata to embark on new projects, fueled by the success and notoriety garnered from his daring exploits. Having recognised the significance of refining a vehicle platform both aesthetically and mechanically, Smokey Nagata aimed for another global marketing coup. This time, he envisioned a Toyota Supra equipped with a V12 engine sourced from the Toyota Century—a luxurious vehicle tailored for the Japanese elite, frequently utilised as a chauffeur-driven limousine.
Although the engine originally generated only 276 horsepower in its stock configuration, Smokey Nagata had grander ambitions. He extensively upgraded its performance for his Supra build, boosting output to a staggering 930 hp and 745 lb-ft (1,010 Nm) of torque. In 2008, he piloted this V12 Supra to the Nardo Ring in Italy, where it set a record speed of 222 mph. The car was a hit, a second internationally recgonised build produced by Top Secret setting the stage for decades of developments and success.
Under Nagata’s stewardship, Top Secret has maintained its prosperity, albeit with a shift towards more conventional mass-market builds, departing from the distinctive marketing project builds such as the V12 Supra. Instead, the focus now lies on models like the R34 and R35 GT-Rs. Nevertheless, Top Secret remains globally renowned for its extensive array of performance parts, encompassing aero kits, engine components, exhaust systems, and suspension upgrades. Remaining true to its origins, Top Secret’s demo cars invariably sport a resplendent gold hue—a homage to the iconic Supra that etched Smokey Nagata’s legacy on the A1 that chilly, damp November night in 1998.
Despite its global success, Top Secret maintains its status as a boutique operation, focusing solely on their own vehicles rather than undertaking customer projects. This approach enables Nagata and his team to uphold a standard of excellence and innovation. Cars are acquired, refined, and sold by Top Secret, while customers have the option to purchase components individually through their web store to enhance their own vehicles.
The decision between purchasing a full build from Top Secret or individual parts depends on both budget and desired build quality. Nagata’s key selling point lies in the balanced approach taken with each Top Secret build. Nagata’s tuning philosophy prioritises equilibrium over raw horsepower. “What I prioritise is the overall balance of a car, not just its power output,” he elaborates. “Even at top speeds, when braking becomes necessary, the car should remain safe and stable. Stock cars often lack stability and pose risks at high speeds. Therefore, my focus in car tuning is on enhancing safety alongside performance. That’s the guiding principle behind Top Secret’s tuning philosophy.”
Kazuhiko “Smokey” Nagata’s journey from rural Hokkaido to the forefront of the JDM tuning scene is a testament to his skill, vision, and unyielding passion for speed. As Top Secret continues to innovate and push boundaries, Smokey Nagata’s legacy as one of the most influential figures in automotive tuning remains firmly intact.
Vehicle Power Figures
The Legendary V12 Supra
222
mph
3.2s
0-60
1,000
HP
745 lb-ft
torque
