When Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami, 34, built his reputation in Japan, media attention was so intense that he could not reveal much about his hobby of collecting fast cars for fear of vandalism. In America, with the help of interpreter Daichi Takasue, Kawakami recently opened up about his passion:
Ever since I was a little boy I had interest in cars. I started out with toy cars.
At 18, I got my drivers license. It’s much harder in Japan to get a license. It is every tedious and can take a month, and even that is considered a short time to get one. A drivers license isn’t more valued there than here; it’s the same. A lot of people drive there and here, and the traffic is about the same, though the roads are a lot smaller in Japan, and the parking can be difficult when you can only either back in or parallel park in many situations there.
I really like the fast European cars, and I’ve had the opportunity to become more experienced with them. I’ve owned seven cars, all in Japan, all brand new. In Japan, interviews are usually more secret about cars, because you don’t want to put the information out there.
The first three or four cars I got were Mercedes Benz, different kinds. Then I got a Bentley Continental GT, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, and a Maserati Grand Turismo S.
The Maserati is the one I bought here and drive here. I love the way it handles, and though it can be considered sporty, it has that classy look to it. I recently put some touches to it such as “blacking” out all the lights and reflections.
None were part of any baseball contract. I have never had a contract with a carmaker. They were all bought with my own money. It’s just really an interest for me.
Where do I drive fast? Just secret places, and not much.
To me, it’s not about riding in a big-time car. I look into what I really want to drive, and then I test drive what I really want, a high-end car. I didn’t buy it because a big-time player should.
The color I like the most in a car is stealth gray. As for features, I really like it quite simple. Sometimes I like a little mystique, like tinted windows. I don’t really have a dream car.
It’s not just that a car is fast. A lot of cars are fast. It’s about the control of the car. A pitcher needs control, too, but there’s really no connection for me between cars and baseball.
There are times when I might discuss stuff about cars with a teammate. Last year a few times I talked to Mike Gonzalez, about what kind of car to get, when he was pitching for the Braves, too.
Acquaintances look after my cars in Japan and maintain them for me. No joy rides; of course not. I trust them, and my cars are fine. Hopefully.
I do go fast, but I never got caught. I’ve never had an accident. As for how fast I’ve driven, I shouldn’t really say. I have never been pulled over by police here, but if you are pulled over in Japan, you’re in big trouble. You can get your license suspended for three months for speeding.
I do have a limit. I don’t want people to read this and think I drive too fast. I don’t like to see people putting themselves in danger. In the end, it’s safety first.
What I like is the scenic view when I drive in different places. Sometimes it can just be easy as the cars pass by, and that’s really good enough for me. I like to drive on the freeway, and I just like seeing the cars go by me and sometimes vice-versa.
-- As told to Michelle Hiskey
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