Ryichir Arai was born in 1855 and came to New York in 1876 to start the direct export of silk. Ryichir Arai, Toyo Morimura, and Morimoto Sato were founders of Japanese American Trade, and they promoted closer relations between Japan and the United States. Yoneo Arai, son of Ryichir Arai, has served as Resident Representative of The Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Company, Ltd. United States Fire Branch, a director of Japan Society, Vice president of the Japan Society, and Chairman of the Board, Yamaichi Securities Company of New York., Inc. The collection consists of personal and business papers of Ryichir Arai and his son, Yoneo Arai. They also include Arai family photographs. Portions of this collection are in Japanese.