the elite; privileged class
Colloquial, often sarcastic term for people who enjoy special treatment or immunity, especially in social or legal contexts. Gained prominence after a 2019 traffic incident in Japan.
That politician acts as if he were a member of the elite.
上級国民だけが得をする社会はおかしい。
A society where only the privileged class benefits is wrong.
エリート is a neutral term for elite individuals based on ability or status, while 上級国民 is a sarcastic, colloquial label implying unfair privilege.
特権階級 is a formal term for a privileged class, whereas 上級国民 is a slangy, often critical expression used in everyday conversation.
low-class citizen; second-class citizen
Compound of 上級 (high class) and 国民 (citizen). The term became widely known in Japan around 2019 after a high-profile traffic accident involving a government official, used sarcastically to criticize perceived preferential treatment.