The Mazda spirit
By
IRARELY write on anything aside from politics, economics, and diplomacy. After all, as an academic and author, I have devoted much of my professional life to understanding public policy, writing books on geopolitics of Asia, advising leading statesmen on matters of domestic and international affairs, and teaching hundreds of university students about the most basic as well as complex theories on and variables in contemporary political and economic landscape.
Yet, like any other human being, I also have my own hobbies and extra-professional interests. Surprise, surprise: Cars have been a lifetime interest. From a very young age, the first inanimate things I was powerfully drawn to were cars. My dad used to joke that I may end up marrying a car, given my quasiobsession about them, as I excitingly described to him, in great detail, as a little child about the latest car that got my attention on the way home from school.
To me, as a young soul, the cars were like living things, with their own spirit and beauty, beckoning my attention with their flashy swift and turns. From toys to computer games, I always loved trying fast and furious cars, for speed (and its effect on our Einsteinean conception of time) has always been the physics that fascinated me the most.Throughout college days, I always looked forward to finishing with good grades and ending up with a decent-paying job so that I can get my own car.
Boy, I couldn’t wait to get my own first car. And somehow I managed to do that, thanks to some heavy saving and heavy lifting from my parents. But then, the question was: What car? Well, one car that caught my attention the most was Mazda 3 (2.0), which combined style, speed, and (relative) affordability for someone like me when I was in my early 20s. I felt it perfectly fit my personality: Young, driven, restless, and style-conscious. Once I settled my mind on something, I was committed to have it. And once I have it, I remained faithful. And yes, I remained to faithful to my first car for years, rarely paying attention to other models.
Around seven years later, as I moved forward in my career as an academic and media practitioner, I ended up getting an interesting offer: To be a Mazda brand ambassador, and along the way try the latest models, including the compact, sleek, and speedy Skyactive Mazda 2, which I think is best for aspirational middle classes and up-and-coming young leaders in various professions.
I have tried driving many cars in my life, and, to be honest, was setting my sight on an SUV (since I am no longer that young and somehow transitioning towards a more settled life). Yet, the latest sedans of Mazda are definitely something to try out, for they suavely combine cutting-edge technology with comfort, style and (relative) affordability.
Somehow, everything connected. Months before becoming a Mazda ambassador, I got an invitation by the Japanese government to meet senior officials, including from the Prime Minister’s office and the National Security Cabinet. As a side trip, I visited Hiroshima, a city that evoked so many emotions – and memories of footages of World War II and the world’s first nuclear attacks.
Little did I know that Mazda actually comes from Hiroshima, a city that was almost completely devastated just decades ago. And from the ruins, like a phoenix, the Japanese manufacturing powerhouse rose to the top of the world’s most recognizable car brands. This, in itself, is something worth keeping in mind. But what makes Mazda stand out?
Well, unlike other major Japanese car brands, Mazda is more specialized, mostly “Made in Japan,” led by engineers at senior management levels, and less mass-scale-oriented – employing artists who manually craft the latest car designs with legendary Japanese craftsmanship and dedication.
More than a car – a fine and disciplined collection of steel, lights, and plastic – Mazda represents precisely the spirit of dedication, resilience, and aesthetic excellence combined with state-of-the-art engineering. As a scholar, I am by nature skeptical about advertisements and endorsements. But this time, everything made sense. If you don’t believe me, feel free to try it yourself during car shows.