The Alai Difference 06] We do not make products that sell, but products that save lives.

I have been riding motorcycles for more than 30 years, but I had no idea how helmets are made until a few years ago, when I took my first tour of the ARAI Helmet factory in Shintou. The production process is complex, and it was truly an eye-opening experience. I am ashamed to admit that I had never imagined that human "hands" and "eyes" had intervened to this extent. In the series of "The Arai Difference," I would like to introduce such invisible details of Arai helmets over a total of six articles.

What is the cornerstone of Arai Helmet's spirit of protection?

After graduating from university, Mr. Masao Arai, president of Arai Helmets, went to the United States to study. After returning to Japan, he helped his family business making helmets, but he always wanted to do something bigger.Then a dramatic incident occurred to the Arai family: on September 28, 1977, Hirotake Arai, then president of the company, was taken hostage in the hijacking of a Japan Airlines plane. The hijackers demanded a ransom of $6 million and the release of nine members of the Japanese Red Army in custody, a decision that took Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda by surprise on October 1. The Japanese government announced that it would accept the hijackers' demands. Prime Minister Fukuda explained his reasoning with the words, "Human life is heavier than the earth. This incident had a strong impact on Rio Arai, who was 39 years old at the time.When I took over my father's job, I asked myself, ' Why am I doing this ? Why am I doing this? I asked myself, 'Why am I doing this? At that time, Prime Minister Fukuda's message, 'Human life is heavier than the earth,' strongly impressed me," said Mr. Arai.This became the cornerstone of Arai Helmet's spirit of protection, and President Arai became deeply aware of the "preciousness of human life" and the "importance of protecting it," and decided to do business in Japan, saying, "There is no business too big or small to protect lives. Since then, Arai Helmet has continued to produce "products that protect people" rather than "products that sell.When I spoke to the members who are currently involved in the development of Arai Helmets, they all agreed that "the president is willing to spend any amount of money as long as it protects people's safety and lives.

The company's predecessor, Hirotake Arai (photo), invented Japan's first head protection gear in 1930 when he developed a "highly breathable sunshade" at the request of the Army, which was the beginning of helmet production.

President Rio Arai was born in Tokyo in 1938. Since his childhood, he has lived with motorcycles around him. As a young man, he participated in motorcycle and four-wheel races. To protect riders, he strives to make helmets that are second to none.

What is the shape of the shield to maintain dodging performance?

What has dramatically improved the "protection performance" is the realization of "impact dodging performance," which is as important as the impact absorption performance of a helmet.The "impact dodging performance" means that no impact is allowed to enter the helmet. The idea is that no matter how large the impact, if the energy of the impact continues to escape, the rider can be protected. This is also the philosophy of ARAI Helmets, which is to make the safest helmets in the world, not just to pass a standard.The essential elements for this dodging performance are the slippery, round and smooth egg-shaped form that has appeared many times in this series, and the "tough shell" that dodges impact without being destroyed up to a certain level of impact.

Lightweight and strong helmet shells are created with the ultimate in materials and craftsmanship.

The round, smooth form creates "dodging performance" and protects the rider from impact.

The unique shape of the Arai helmet is the line that connects the frontal area to the side of the head and to the ears. To achieve this shape, the curvature of the shield is also carefully considered.

It is the creator's passion that makes the "Arai difference".

All Arai helmets are handmade by craftsmen. Each helmet is created by human eyes, hands, and skills. The work procedure is carried out in accordance with the work specifications, and there are as many as 16 work procedures in one process. Each of these processes can only be done by human hands.Weighing scales are placed at various points in the helmet production process, and all shells are double-checked. The fact that many parts of the assembly process are done by hand is a testament to the fact that the helmets cannot be easily mass-produced.The human hand is the best gift God has given us. Such human hands make the helmets. Furthermore, if everyone involved in the work makes it while praying, 'May the riders be saved as much as possible,' I think that is the best group of people," says President Arai.Of course, not everyone who works for Arai Helmets is engaged in "protecting riders. However, each and every staff member at Arai Helmets, including those who apply stickers, paint, ship, process paperwork, and assemble helmets, is involved in helmet production with a "desire to protect.We want to make a helmet that is as good as possible, and we want to protect as many riders as possible. Such a desire of people creates the character of Arai helmets and becomes "the Arai difference".

Visually check the preformer, which is the base of the shell. Check to see if the weight is within the specified limits.

A lighter helmet will reduce fatigue when riding. The shell molding department hand-sharpened and lightened the shells, and concentrated their nerves on painting them to make them as light, thin, and beautiful as possible, even at 0.1 g.

Protecting riders does not begin without first getting them to use an Arai helmet. We will finish our helmets while pursuing their beauty so that they will be chosen as the face of the rider.

There is a tense and taut atmosphere in the assembly plant. Everyone takes responsibility for each and every step of the process and works with the spirit of "protecting the rider's head," not to mention accuracy. This prayerful desire further enhances the "protective performance" of the product.

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