Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2013

Although most will acknowledge that bike helmets can potentially save lives, not everyone wants to look like Steve Carell in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Now it’s possible to avoid both major head trauma and looking geeky with stylish helmets available in Japan through Inter Press Inc. (http://ipistyle.com). Brain buckets from Danish brand Yakkay have a hard inner shield that passes US and European safety standards and are covered with an interchangeable fabric outer layer in a number of styles ranging from conservative check to hipster patterns (pictured; ¥12,390-13,440). If a Japanese-made lid doesn’t fit your noggin, medium and large sizes are available. Ladies might prefer the fashionable ones from Sawako Furuno (¥13,440-14,490), a London-based Japanese designer. The Japan-inspired designs include sakura and hanabi motifs with feminine models in pink and mint green also available. For more on cycling and the city see our bike feature.