Gracshaw, a Malaysian-made motorcycle helmet brand under Double Site Marketing Sdn Bhd, officially launched its Japan Edition motorcycle helmets today.
The visually-stunning Japanese inspired edition, comprising six unique designs – Kurita, Tsuru, Japop, Tengu, Oda and Karasu — was showcased for the first time at the recent Terengganu Bike Week 2023 and received overwhelming response from biking enthusiasts.
The Gracshaw Japan Edition is available as open face, double visor helmets of the popular Gracshaw Gennex model. The recommended retail price is RM420 and every helmet comes with an exclusive backpack for protection and ease of carrying.
According to Farizan bin Md Akir, Marketing Division, Double Site Marketing, the Japan Edition was designed in Penang and manufactured in Jitra, Kedah, making it a truly Malaysian product.
“This is the most unique and exciting range yet from Gracshaw and took almost eight months to develop from concept to production. At Gracshaw, we see the importance of always wearing a good and fitting helmet when riding.”
“Although some people may complain that helmets are just a ‘legal requirement’, we see them as so much more. Our vision is to offer headwear that combines quality, comfort and style to cater to sophisticated and fashion-conscious riders.
We firmly believe that our Japan Edition will capture the imagination of Malaysian riders, many of whom have grown up with Japanese culture and are familiar with the icons, motifs and characters featured. The launch is an important milestone for the brand. By next year, we plan to export to other markets in Southeast Asia,” he said.
The Gracshaw Japan Edition Helmet designs are crafted based on the needs of riders who prefer to express their own individual characteristics and style while riding. The design focuses on three key elements – statements of style, expressions of individuality and extensions of personality.
The final six designs, each featuring exciting Japanese elements, can be categorised into three main themes, namely; intriguing folk tales, exciting pop culture and historical chronicles.
The Kurita takes design cues from a popular Japanese fable and highlights the giant octopus, one of the sea monsters sent to recover the sacred jewel stolen from the Palace of the Dragon King by a pearl diver, Princess Tamatori. Other design elements include the katana sword, pearl, waves and flowers.
And then, we have the Tsuru design which features the red-crowned crane, one of the rarest in the world. It is widely regarded as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity. In Japan, this crane is known as the tanchōzuru and is said to live up to 1,000 years. Cranes are said to grant favours in return for acts of sacrifice, as in Tsuru no Ongaeshi (crane’s return of a favour).
Those who grew up with Japanese popular art will find the anime and manga-inspired Japop design appealing. The fun combination of traditional elements such as fish and animals with dinosaurs and the popular manga character Astro Boy is certain to make this a conversation piece.
Meanwhile, those who prefer a more mysterious theme would like the Tengu design. The main character is the Tengu, a mischievous supernatural being from Japanese folklore that is supposed to have awesome wind controlling power. With his red face, long nose, robes and wings, the tengu is not to be messed with as he can cause chaos.
Moving on, the Oda design pays tribute to Nobunaga Oda, a fearless Japanese warlord from the Sengoku period. The head of the powerful Oda clan, he waged war against other feudal lords and manage to unify Japan in the 1560s. The Battle of Okehazama is regarded as one of the most significant turning points in Japanese history with Oda defeating an army 10 times the size of his own. Key design elements include a katana-wielding Oda wearing a fearsome mask, his silhouette on a horse against a rising sun and the spider lily.
Lastly, the Karasu design features weapons associated with ninjas such as the shuriken, kunai and kusarigama. Legendary ninja Hattori Hanzo who served the Tokugawa clan with distinction, was credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a shogun who went on to rule a united Japan. Hanzo commanded a 200-men strong unit of ninja warriors and was claimed to have various supernatural abilities that made him invincible.
