Michio Arai focused first on domestic competition, both two wheels and four. “In those days,” he recalled, “the market was much smaller, and there were no differences between a motorcycle racing helmet and a car racing helmet. Now, they are much more specific.” Within a year, Arai had conquered Japan. “I drove for Nissan, so I was a big name,” he laughed. “All I had to ask was, ‘Will you wear my helmet?’” Having achieved success at home, Michio Arai shifted his attention to the U.S., a large market dominated by Bell. Arai helmets were still branded “H.A.,” with the initials representing either “Hirotake Arai” or “Helmet Arai.” Accessory Distributors, Inc., the U.S. importer, asked Michio to consider changing the company name, suggesting “H.A.” might be misinterpreted as “Ha.” The discussion dragged on for hours. “We drank a lot of whiskey and talked until morning,” said Michio Arai. Finally, ADI President George Nicholson asked, “What about your family name? Arai doesn’t sound strictly Japanese, but it isn’t American or European, either. And it’s easy to pronounce.”
If you come up with the right idea, I will pay you $50.’ I liked the oval graphic he created, so I paid him $100.
Newly rebranded “Arai Helmet” needed its own identity. “There was a designer working part-time in the ADI offices,” recalled Michio Arai. “I asked him to draw a nice logo. ‘If you come up with the right idea, I will pay you $50.’ I liked the oval graphic he created, so I paid him $100.” Michio Arai plied ADI VP Roger Weston to stoke awareness in the U.S. through national competition. “Racers have more chances to use protection,” he said. “I told Roger, ‘Bring Arai to the American racing scene.’ He found a rider who would wear my helmet: Ted Boody Jr.”
Michio Arai flew to Los Angeles to meet Boody in person. For more than an hour, he explained all the factory had done to produce a more protective product. “Ted told me, ‘I don’t understand everything you’ve said, but you’re a straight-talking man. I’d like to try your helmet.’
STRONG, SMOOTH, ROUND SHELL Arai believes that our rounder, smoother, and stronger shells help our helmets slide past obstacles and not catch or snag. We named this “glancing off.” We have continu- ally evolved our round and smooth shape with each new generation to increase glancing-off properties with consis- tent accumulations of small improvements to further head protection for our fellow riders. The round, smooth shape continues as the foundation of every Arai shell.
“He took my helmet and put it on his head. He said, ‘It fits great.’” With that, Ted Boody Jr. became Arai’s first sponsored racer. He won the season-opening 1979 AMA Houston Short Track in front of a packed house at the iconic Astrodome. Arai still uses the name “Astro.”
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