Arai started University as a student of biology, and encountered photography for the first time there. He encountered the
daguerrotype in a search to trace photography back to its roots, and dedicated the time and effort necessary to master the complex technique behind it. This project led him to photograph the deeply interconnected subjects of Fukushima, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. After
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami he often visited
Fukushima and depicted the aftermath of the triple disaster. The product of these ventures can be seen in two of his major projects. Here and There – Tomorrow's Islands, a series of documentary-style daguerreotypes that he created in Fukushima after the triple disaster there in 2011. This project stands out from others he has done, as this addresses a nuclear event that occurred during his lifetime, whereas other nuclear events he has had as the subject of his work (like the Daigo Fukuryu Maru) are significantly older. Another project similar in concept, but not in medium, to the two previously mentioned project is Arai's 49 Pumpkins. Originally commissioned by Artpace San Antonio, 49 Pumpkins is a short film that addressing a series of events following the bombing of Hiroshima. For context, a year after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, an oddly large number if pumpkins were harvested in Hiroshima. 49 "pumpkin bombs" –– dummy atomic bombs –– were dropped in 49 locations that would have been targeted if Japan had not surrendered. This was the basis of the project, and the original plan had been to charter a
North American B-25 Mitchell to actually drop pumpkin "bombs" (which would have been 49 real pumpkins). His other major projects include Tomorrow's History. This is a collection of daguerrotype portraits of teenagers from historically stigmatized teenagers; which was then coupled with an interview of the subject of the photograph. The Daily Daguerreotype Project is Arai's ongoing project that started in 2011. It as originally housed on Arai's website, but has since moved to Instagram. Rather than being on an Instagram account under Arai's name, it is housed on an account named daily_dag with his name and website link the bio. His short description of the project in the bio reads "Daily daguerreotype practice and ambient sounds during exposures since 2011." Photos from before the move to Instagram are still housed on Arai's website under a tab called "Daily D-type Project" . As fitting for the description, the Daily Daguerrotype Project does not have a consistent choice of subject–– the subjects range from people, to flowers, to landscapes. ==Collections and exhibits==