Arai Trading, which created Aria Pro II, is not a guitar manufacturing company but a trading company engaged in the import and export of musical instruments and domestic wholesale distribution. The manufacturing company known for producing these guitars was Matsumoku Industrial, located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, which closed in February 1987. A guitar-shaped monument remains at the site, which corresponds to the current Nanbu Park.

Initially, they sold semi-acoustic guitars, but Shiro Arai, the current advisor, was impressed by the superb craftsmanship of the Gibson Les Paul showcased at an American musical instrument show in 1968 and began manufacturing solid-body guitars upon returning to Japan.

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Notable overseas guitarists who used Aria Pro II include Neal Schon, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Michael Schenker, while well-known domestic guitarists include the late Masaki Matsubara, Kazumi Watanabe, Masaharu Fukuyama, and Takashi Igarashi. The high level of completion of the PE series has received particular acclaim.

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• 1956 (Showa 31): Founded by Shiro Arai, current advisor. Capital of 1 million yen.

• 1959 (Showa 34): Export of musical instruments begins to gain traction.

• 1960 (Showa 35): The brand name for their guitars is changed from Arai Guitar to Aria.

• 1964 (Showa 39): Begins selling domestically produced musical instruments.

• 1966 (Showa 41): Releases their own electric guitars under the Aria Diamond brand.

• 1975 (Showa 50): Opens Tokyo and Osaka branches, fully separates their electric guitar brand from acoustic guitars, and launches the Aria Pro II brand.

• 1976 (Showa 51): Commences full-scale wholesale distribution of musical instruments.

• 1977 (Showa 52): Prototype Line PE-1500, PE-1000, PE-800, and PE-600 are announced and released in October.

• 1978 (Showa 53): Establishes Aria UK Ltd. in London, UK, and begins local wholesale distribution.

• 1981 (Showa 56): The PE-R series is released due to a model change.

• 1987 (Showa 62): Matsumoku Industrial, which primarily handled production, closes, and production is switched to Tokai Gakki Seizo.

• 1993 (Heisei 5): Increases capital to 90 million yen.

• 1995 (Heisei 7): Completes the product center and begins operations.

• 2006 (Heisei 18): Establishes Aria Co., Ltd. and begins mail-order business.