First-Class Men Don’t…

Some time ago, I read Why First-Class Men Don’t Buy Kei Cars, by Risei Satonaka. The book seems to have drawn mixed reactions—many of them aimed at the author rather than the content itself—but I found some points thought-provoking and others hard to agree with. Here’s what the book description on Amazon says:

Taking the easy route and choosing cheap things can put you at risk.
Don’t let the crowd dictate how you think.

Is there any value in a kei car, which is relatively easy to buy?
There’s no value in something anyone can own.
It may offer value for the money, but that value comes from the herd mentality that says, “Everyone has one, so it must be safe.”

First-class people don’t think that way.
They also have a sense of propriety and common sense when it comes to society.
They don’t buy something that puts lives at greater risk simply because it’s cheap.

If you want to become first-class,
you need to leave “ignorance” behind.
Especially when it comes to things that are popular,
you should be highly skeptical.

I can understand the argument that “you shouldn’t let the crowd dictate how you think. You should be especially skeptical of whatever is currently in vogue.” I’m not one to queue for hours, either. Rather than jumping on every trend, I believe we should think for ourselves and make considered choices.

For example, to me, an hour of my time is worth more than the food I might get after waiting in line for an hour. Especially since having children, I’ve come to feel—without exaggeration—that “time is life.” So instead of buying something just because it’s popular, what matters more is whether a product or service is genuinely valuable to me and whether it’s worth the cost. (Maybe that’s just because I’ve always been pretty practical.)

That said, some parts of the book and its description didn’t sit right with me.

What Didn’t Sit Right With Me

There are three main points I disagree with. First:

① “There’s No Value in Something Anyone Can Buy”

It’s true that niche products may be more expensive and considered more valuable. And experiences available to only a select few may attract more interest than ones anyone can have.

But on the other hand, some things have become widespread precisely because anyone can afford them and they’re convenient. Smartphones are a good example (though the total cost can be high, the monthly payments may be affordable). Almost everyone has one, and that single device lets us make calls, use the internet, work, send email, and connect with people around the world.

Something can be all the more valuable because it’s accessible to everyone and widely used. Plenty of things have spread because they’re useful. You can’t simply say they have no value.

② “Buy an Expensive Car, Even If It’s Just to Show Off”

Hmm… I can see the upside of buying a luxury car—even if it’s partly to impress others—and then working hard to become the kind of person who can live up to it. But if the car you truly want is a kei car, then that’s the right car to buy. The Honda S660 is genuinely cool, and a man who can confidently say, “This kei car is an amazing car!” regardless of what others think is pretty cool, too.

Rather than saying, “Buy an expensive car to show off,” I’d be much more persuaded by a message like this:

If you’ve always dreamed of owning a luxury car, don’t give up on that dream. Dream big, work hard, and make it happen! Even if people around you say, “You can’t afford a car that expensive,” don’t let them stop you—go out and achieve your goal.

Telling people to buy an expensive car just to keep up appearances doesn’t sit well with me. It makes me think the author probably isn’t that interested in cars—or doesn’t know much about them.

③ “You Need a Luxury Car to Pick Up Women”

…Seriously, what era is this? Sure, plenty of women might be impressed when they see a man driving a luxury car. And while brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW have expanded their lineups to include more accessible models—even new cars in the ¥2 million range—the luxury-car image still lingers.

But please don’t underestimate women.

We’re not so foolish that we’ll just go along with a man because he drives a luxury car. (Though I’m sure there are exceptions.) More households now have two working partners, and more women are earning their own incomes. Many women are financially independent and buy what they want for themselves.

They know you can’t judge a man’s worth by his possessions alone.

Owning expensive things may suggest that someone is successful at work and has a strong earning capacity. But that success is more likely to come from qualities like being a decent person, earning people’s respect, valuing friends and colleagues, working to grow as a person, being adaptable, and staying open-minded and eager to learn. Those qualities may be why opportunities keep coming his way—and why he’s able to earn a good living.

A luxury car is simply one possible result of that success. What matters more is the person’s character and values.

When a man gives off the vibe of, “Look at me—I drive a luxury car. Aren’t I impressive?” I might say, “Wow, that’s amazing!”—but inside, I could well be viewing him with a cool, skeptical eye.

A Catchy Title, But…

“Why First-Class Men Don’t Buy Kei Cars” is an interesting, catchy title. I wish the book had been written by someone who genuinely loved cars, knew a wide range of them, and could judge them objectively—and then explain how driving a car you’ve always admired can open up your world.

Then again, perhaps that wouldn’t have suited the publisher’s agenda. Maybe authors can’t always write exactly what they want when the goal is to publish a bestseller. Whatever the case, I think it’s important to consider what’s out there while still holding firmly to your own standards for making decisions.