The Shoei Company is the leading manufacturer of helmets in Japan that is renowned for its high-tech Shoei helmets. Due to its versatility, the Shoei helmets have made a niche of their own in the market. The Shoei Company is known for its quality helmets that are durable and the Hornet-DS helmet from Shoei is a helmet with various options that can be put together by the rider and suits on-road or off-road riding.

The Shoei helmets are distinguished objects of industrial design as these helmets not only serve the main function of shielding the rider's head but are also noticeably beautiful. The sleek design is the most notable feature of Shoei helmets. Adding to this is the adequate ventilation that the helmet has ingrained into its structure lessening rider fatigue. Once again the Hornet-DS helmet from Shoei is worth mentioning. We can't help thinking whether this helmet has been designed for its looks rather than function as its frontal projection from the cranium and termination in the nosepiece makes it an apt Star Wars prop. The beauty of this helmet adds to its inventive qualities and has been scientifically designed for: 1] safety of the head; 2] adequate air passage within the helmet structure to keep the face and head sufficiently fresh and dry.

Furthermore, beyond design and function Shoei Helmets are also extremely durable. This is not surprising since their ancestry lies in helmets manufactured for the Japanese construction industry. When Shoei began producing helmets specifically for motorcycle use in 1960 they immediately met the industry standards in Japan for durability and ability to withstand an impact. To this day that remains the foremost concern of the manufacturer. The first use of carbon fiber and Kevlar in a motorcycle helmet was the GRV, a Shoei product. Now many Shoei Helmets even meet the guidelines of the Snell Memorial Foundations M2005 rating. The Snell Memorial Foundation has sometimes been criticized for how stringent it's safety standards are and the helmets that meet these standards are therefore easily the safest helmets available for motorcycle riding.

Shoei helmets have received many awards for design as well as safety features. The sales of the Shoei helmets have been greatly boosted by the fact that the Honda Motor Company linked these helmets to its motorcycle product line in 1965.

Surprisingly, this company, a company with a strong international presence-the Shoei helmet is very sought after in the United States-has a world-wide work force of only 500 people. Despite the popularity of the Shoei product in many regions of the world, and despite the fact that the Shoei helmet could be manufactured in places where costs would be much cheaper than in Japan, the company proudly proclaims that every Shoei helmet is produced in its state-of-art facility in Iwate, Japan. This small company produces a superior product that has delighted motorcycle enthusiasts throughout the world.