<Li> Mitsumo `` Arnold '' Takahashi ( Noriyuki `` Pat '' Morita ) ( seasons 3 10 -- 11 : 26 episodes ) depicted the owner of Arnold 's Drive - In for season three ( 1975 -- 76 ) . He stated that he obtained the moniker when he purchased Arnold 's restaurant and people thought it was named after him , explaining that it was too costly to buy enough letter signs needed to rename it `` Takahashi '' . He moonlighted as a martial arts instructor , teaching self - defense classes at the drive - in after hours . Morita also played `` Arnold '' as a guest star in 1977 and 1979 before returning as a recurring character after Al Molinaro departed in 1982 . </Li>
<Li> Mitsumo `` Arnold '' Takahashi ( Noriyuki `` Pat '' Morita ) ( seasons 3 10 -- 11 : 26 episodes ) depicted the owner of Arnold 's Drive - In for season three ( 1975 -- 76 ) . He stated that he obtained the moniker when he purchased Arnold 's restaurant and people thought it was named after him , explaining that it was too costly to buy enough letter signs needed to rename it `` Takahashi '' . He moonlighted as a martial arts instructor , teaching self - defense classes at the drive - in after hours . Morita also played `` Arnold '' as a guest star in 1977 and 1979 before returning as a recurring character after Al Molinaro departed in 1982 . </Li>
who was the first owner of arnold 's on happy days
who was the first owner of arnold 's on happy days
Mitsumo `` Arnold '' Takahashi
Mitsumo `` Arnold '' Takahashi