Bell Textron Co., Ltd., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is proud to celebrate a decade since its formation as a registered company in Japan, honoring a 72-year legacy.

“As Bell Japan commemorates the 10th anniversary of its opening, we are reminded of an outstanding legacy in the Japanese archipelago that we have carefully cultivated for 72 years,” said Danny Maldonado, chief commercial officer, Bell. “Bell Japan embodies the spirit of kaizen, innovation and growth, so this milestone is not just a reflection of our past achievements, but a testament of our commitment to collaboration and excellence – all of which continue to drive us forward in such a dynamic market.”

Historically, Bell has supplied most of the helicopters – over 1,500 aircraft – that have been used or are still in service in Japan. It all started with the first delivery of three Bell 47D-1s to Mainichi Press, Yomiuri Press and Chunichi Press in November 1952. A few weeks later, Japan Helicopter & Aeroplane Transports Co., Ltd., the predecessor of All Nippon Airways, received two Bell 47D-1s to establish a helicopter service, which officially began operations in February 1953. Between 1952 and 1960, about 19 Bell Model 47 aircraft were delivered into Japan.

The cornerstone of Bell’s presence in the country is the unwavering support and belief of the customers. NAKANIHON AIR and Shin-Nihon Helicopter both made the Bell 47G-2 their first purchase in 1960. NAKANIHON AIR, appointed a Customer Service Facility (CSF) in May 1994, has purchased around 80 Bell aircraft over a period of 60 years while Shin-Nihon Helicopter, specializing in powerline patrols, became the first in Japan to purchase the Bell 407GXi in 2019.

Aero Asahi’s genesis is closely tied to Bell as well – they launched operations in 1955, using two Bell Model 47s and became a CSF in 1994. In May 2018, Aero Asahi received their 23rd Bell rotorcraft, a Bell 412EP. Japan General Aviation Service (JGAS) was named Japan’s sole Bell 505 Authorized Maintenance Center (AMC) in 2022, performing maintenance work for both commercial and governmentoperated aircraft. JGAS also purchased Japan’s first Designer Series Bell 429 for corporate transport work in March 2024.

In 1960, Bell made another leap in the archipelago – a technical assistance agreement was signed with SUBARU (known as Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. until 2017), a brand steeped in Japanese heritage, and they received an order of UH-1B utility helicopters from the Defense Agency. This was the beginning of a longstanding relationship between Bell and SUBARU.

Licensed production of the UH-1B commercial variant, the FUJI-BELL 204B, began in 1964. The UH-1J was developed as the successor of the UH-1B / 1H and soon after, the FUJI-BELL 205B was introduced to the market in 1995. In June 2022, SUBARU delivered the first locally manufactured UH-2 utility helicopter to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The UH-2 was produced, based on the SUBARU BELL 412EPX, which was jointly developed for military and commercial markets as an advanced variant of the Bell 412EPI.

As an appointed CSF, SUBARU services Bell’s legacy models, such as the Bell 204, Bell 205B and Bell 412EP, on top of assembling, repairing and customizing Bell aircraft for the Japan Coast Guard, National Police Agency and other government agencies.

Having proven their worth in utility work, Bell aircraft have made their presence known on the silver screen, too. Bell’s helicopters were heavily used to support the filming of the fifth James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, primarily done in Japan between July 1966 and March 1967. A Bell UH-1 was used for location work while the Kawasaki-Bell 47G-3 was utilized as a pursuit craft in a few scenes and as a filming platform that allowed the cameraman to perch half-in, half-out of the cabin.

Although the Bell 47D-1 and FUJI-BELL 204B / 205B, among others, have long since ceased production and now reside in the annals of aviation history, Bell’s current line-up – including the Bell 505, Bell 407GXi, SUBARU BELL 412EPX and Bell 429 – showcases the tremendous strides the company has made in innovation within the commercial sector. These modern aircraft not only epitomize Bell’s determination to revolutionize technology and performance but also underscore the expansion of Bell’s footprint in Japan, a key market that has warmly embraced the brand’s legacy and its values for 72 years and counting.