Although Arata completed his education with a degree in journalism, his first interest lay in music. During his university days he played guitar and sang with various bands. His professional career began with a bluegrass band in 1975, and from 1978-82 he wrote and sang many of his own songs with his band Handpicked. He was signed to a songwriting contract by Don Tolle’s Noble Vision label, where Jim Glaser recorded some of his songs, charting ‘The Man In The Mirror’ and ‘I’ll Be Your Fool Tonight’.