There is a term, "Life Achiever." It refers to individuals who constantly strive for new stages in life without compromise, whether in their professional or personal lives. For some reason, many of them are Bentley enthusiasts. Perhaps it's because they resonate with the continuous evolution and pursuit of excellence. In this feature, we cast a dentist, a Life Achiever who is at the forefront of dental medicine. In the first part, Dr. Kenji Kuribayashi, who runs Kuribayashi Dental Clinic in Shin-Urayasu, Chiba, shares the allure of the Bentley Continental GT V8.

Is the Bentley Continental GT V8 favored by highly skilled business professionals? This British-made luxury coupe, which began its long-awaited delivery in Japan in the summer of 2020, is already captivating many with its robust car-making concept and meticulous attention to detail.

One individual who feels a great attraction to the Continental GT V8 is Dr. Kenji Kuribayashi, a dentist who runs Kuribayashi Dental Clinic in Shin-Urayasu, Chiba. He considers a car an essential item for both work and family life.

He commutes to his workplace from his home in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, by car. He also uses his car for weekend outings with his family. "Driving is a kind of refreshing balm for work fatigue, and it's also an important tool that enhances time spent with my family."

For Mr. Kuribayashi, who speaks with such conviction, his expectations for a car are clear, and his immediate impression upon getting inside was precise: "Every part is beautifully finished."

"As a dentist, I am also a craftsman, and I find myself captivated by every single detail. Whether it's the beauty of the wood panels with their deep luster, the stitching on the instrument panel and steering wheel, or the exquisite embroidery on the leather seats and door panels, I feel the craftsmanship."

The interior of the Continental GT V8 featured here boasts wood panels finished in piano black, a glossy black lacquer, creating a beautiful contrast with the chrome controls, reminiscent of a musical instrument.

Bentley takes pride in its finishes, pursuing the beauty of color in its wood panels, which can withstand even the most discerning aesthetic standards. For example, American Red Gum, a wood found in the wetlands of Mississippi after two years of research (Bentley voluntarily restricts itself to using only naturally fallen trees). It is characterized by a deep color, much like that of an antique musical instrument.

The "Diamond in Diamond" embroidery, featuring a double diamond pattern, on the door panels and seats is another hallmark of the exquisite finishing found in current Bentley models. To achieve this embroidery, Bentley commissioned custom-made sewing machines.

"Even so, I am impressed by how they are made, such as the curved sections where the wood panels seamlessly integrate from the instrument panel to the doors."

These interiors are handcrafted by thousands of skilled artisans at the factory in Crewe, in the northwest of England. The wood panels, which form a large ring around the cabin as pointed out by Mr. Kuribayashi, can be selected from woods sourced worldwide, offering a high degree of customization in their finish. What they all share is "a finish that highlights natural beauty, achieved after 72 hours of curing, followed by five repeated cycles of lacquering and polishing" (Bentley).

Cruising through the city in the Continental GT V8, Mr. Kuribayashi smiled and shared his thoughts: "I felt that Bentley meticulously considers how to enhance the experience of driving when crafting their cars."

Mr. Kuribayashi's motto in managing his clinic is: "To create an environment where patients can receive treatment with peace of mind, while being attentive to their feelings." He offers treatment in collaboration with specialists in each field, covering areas such as cavities, root canal therapy, periodontal disease treatment, orthodontics, bite alignment (occlusal therapy), dentures, bridges, and implants.

To achieve this, he believes that the overall environment, from the clinic's facade to the atmosphere of the waiting room and the comfort of the treatment rooms, including scent, lighting, and music, contributes to the patient's sense of security. We too, when we recall, pay attention to these aspects at a dental clinic.

Mr. Kuribayashi found that the Continental GT V8's ability to welcome, embrace, and ultimately delight its occupants with its driving performance resonated with his own philosophy for his clinic, leaving a strong impression.

At the same time, he felt that the high level of design, from the overall styling of the body to the finest details, and the quality of craftsmanship in each part, are also extremely important elements.

"As I mentioned earlier, dentists are also manufacturers. Nowadays, we scan the inside of the mouth with light and create dentures using 3D printers. What's important is not to lean solely towards appearance or function, but to achieve a balance between the two. It's difficult, but without pursuing this, we cannot create "teeth" that satisfy our patients."

These too are about balance and coexistence. Bentley excels at harmonizing classic values with cutting-edge technology. One example is the body panels, which exhibit no distortion.

Forming panels using heavy presses is a costly process. Furthermore, assembling the panels with minimal gaps, ensuring a precise fit, is a highly skilled task.

Indeed, the car achieves a subtle warmth, reminiscent of a fine wine glass with its curves, yet also possessing a delicate touch, like fine porcelain crafted by a master artisan. The lines and surfaces of the body form a complex beauty that is endlessly captivating.

"Although this is my first time driving a Bentley, I find that products that convey tradition and the maker's passion, like the Continental GT, bring a sense of richness to the user. It's the same with artisanal fountain pens or watches, isn't it? Like teeth, they require proper maintenance and long-term care to deepen one's affection. I felt that the Continental GT embodies such values."

Mr. Kuribayashi, who drives his car almost every day, whether for work or leisure, enjoys the time spent driving.

"I have a responsible job where I face each patient every day. If the Continental GT were my own car, I believe it would help relieve my work fatigue, and even the ordinary scenery outside the window would appear different. Although I don't have children yet, I imagined enjoying long drives with my son in the future. I would want him to experience the excitement unique to the Continental GT, such as its powerful engine sound and exhilarating acceleration, and to be exposed to well-crafted items imbued with the maker's passion from a young age."

The reasons why Life Achievers choose Bentley can be understood from Mr. Kuribayashi's words.

"What I've learned from Bentley cars is the importance of forging one's own path with conviction. My interest in Bentley was piqued when I read that it was a car favored by Jirō Shirasu (1902-85), who served as a close aide to Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida during the post-war Allied occupation of Japan."

The legendary Jirō Shirasu advocated for the Japanese people with an international perspective, stating, "Japan is increasingly becoming a member of the international community, and our opportunities to interact with foreigners will also increase. To engage with Westerners, it is absolutely essential to have clear principles in all our words and actions" (from "Japan Without Principles").

Mr. Kuribayashi believes that treating teeth is not enough to serve Japan's 100 million people. With the aspiration to "be recognized by the 7.7 billion people in the world," he has traveled extensively for research, studying cavity and periodontal disease in Sweden, occlusion in Vienna, and aesthetic treatments in the United States.

"I believed it was important to actively engage with superior ideas. For instance, in Europe, dental treatment doesn't just focus on the teeth. It considers diet, sleep, and the patient's mental state as part of the treatment. Even if an approach isn't recognized in Japan, I have studied it with conviction."

Encountering Jirō Shirasu and Bentley, Mr. Kuribayashi felt a strong sense of resonance with their unwavering integrity and their philosophy of craftsmanship that stays true to its core.

While Bentley may be considered classic, it cherishes designs that evoke history and evolves them subtly with the times, succeeding in creating a unique world. Therefore, when Mr. Kuribayashi settles into the cabin of the Continental GT V8, the first feeling he might experience is a sense of kinship.

It may seem odd to call a car and a person kin. However, Bentley products possess a distinctly human touch throughout. The 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, delivering a maximum output of 550ps and peak torque of 770Nm, is paired with an active all-wheel-drive system and adaptive suspension, representing the pinnacle of technology.

The Continental GT V8, however, transcends mere industrial product. It offers a ride that can soothe the mind amidst a busy schedule, or deliver astonishing acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.0 seconds.

While a grand tourer for long distances, it also excels as a sports car. At its core, the Continental GT V8 may possess an unwavering spirit that refuses to compromise its car-making principles.

KURIBAYASHI Kenji
Director, Kuribayashi Dental Clinic, Medical Corporation. Graduated from Nihon University School of Dentistry in 2003. Completed residency at Tanaka Dental Clinic, Keiseikai Medical Corporation in 2003. Graduated from the New York University College of Dentistry's Continuing Dental Education Program in 2009. Opened Kuribayashi Dental Clinic, Medical Corporation in the same year. Graduated from the Medical University of Vienna in 2014. Appointed Lecturer of Conservative Periodontology at Tokyo Nishinomori Dental Hygienist School in 2017. Became a director of MID-G, an organization supporting the dual goals of management and education for dental clinics nationwide, in 2018. Committed to promoting true preventive medicine, he collaborates with specialists from various fields to provide genuine preventive care to patients.
https://www.kuribayashi-dc.com/