When he had learned to drive before going to France to study, driving had been regarded as something that was only to be done by an uncouth man or a man of humble position at that time in Japan, therefore, it was considered outrageous that an Imperial family member would be seen behind the wheel.
フランス留学前に自動車の運転を覚えていたが、当時の日本では運転は匹夫野人のすることで、皇族がハンドルを握ることなどもってのほかとされていた。