Career
Born in Tokyo, Arikawa practiced karate as a youth. He began training in aikido at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1948 and was promoted to 9th dan in 1994. Arikawa was for many years the editor of the Aikikai"s newspaper, and taught outside of Hombu at branch dojos including those of the Asahi Shimbun, Hosei University, and at several other universities.