Arai Helmet Limited creates premium motorcycle and motorsport helmets through meticulous Japanese craftsmanship.
Origins and Early Development
Yuichiro Arai started the company in 1900 by making kepi-style caps. His son Hirotake Arai, a motorcycle enthusiast, expanded into military headgear for the Imperial Japanese Army in 1930. After World War II, the company transformed into the Arai Sewing Machine Company, producing T-shirts and overalls.
Evolution into Helmet Manufacturing
The company’s pivot to helmets began when Hirotake Arai developed safety helmets for construction workers using resin shells lined with cork. In 1950, after receiving a Japanese Industrial Standards license, Arai produced Japan’s first motorcycle helmets under the H.A. designation.
Global Expansion
The company’s international growth started when Michio Arai explored the U.S. market, dominated by Bell at the time. In 1978, Ted Boody Jr. became Arai’s first non-Japanese sponsored racer, followed by Freddie Spencer in Grand Prix racing. The European market opened in 1983 when Ferry Brouwer established Arai Europe in the Netherlands.
Technical Innovation
Construction Excellence
Each Arai helmet features hand-built construction with fiber-reinforced plastic shells. The manufacturing process involves:
- A distinctive “bird’s nest” round base
- Multiple reinforcing layers
- Kiln curing
- Rigorous inspection stages
Safety Standards
The Arai Quantic helmet pioneered the new ECE 22.06 standard, introducing revolutionary safety features. This standard improved upon the previous ECE 22-05 by:
- Implementing random impact testing points
- Testing angled impacts at 45 degrees
- Measuring rotational forces on the brain
Recognition
Arai dominated the J.D. Power and Associates Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction studies, ranking first for thirteen consecutive years from 1999 to 2011. Their helmets meet or exceed Snell Memorial Foundation safety standards in the U.S. and FIA requirements for Formula One racing.
Citations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arai_Helmet
Arai Helmet Limited (株式会社 アライヘルメット, Kabushiki-gaisha Arai Herumetto) is a Japanese company that designs and manufactures motorcycle helmets and other helmets for motorsports.
 | |
| Company type | Joint stock company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorcycle helmet, auto racing, kart racing, and helmet manufacturing |
| Founder | Hirotake Arai |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Key people | Michio Arai (executive director) Akihito Arai |
| Website | www.araihelmet.com |
The business has roots from the turn of the century involving cap production, followed by military headgear from 1930 onwards, industrial safety helmets after World War II, and finally motorcycle helmets from 1952 onward.