Howa

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Japanese machinery and firearms manufacturing company

title: "Howa" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["firearm-manufacturers-of-japan", "companies-listed-on-the-tokyo-stock-exchange", "manufacturing-companies-established-in-1907", "companies-based-in-aichi-prefecture", "machine-tool-builders", "japanese-companies-established-in-1907", "japanese-brands"] description: "Japanese machinery and firearms manufacturing company" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howa" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Japanese machinery and firearms manufacturing company ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameHowa Machinery, Ltd.
native_name豊和工業株式会社
native_name_langja
logoHowa logo.svg
typePublic (K.K)
traded_as

| | ISIN | | | foundation | | | hq_location_city | Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture 452-8601 | | hq_location_country | Japan | | key_people | Takahiro Tsukamoto (President) | | industry | Machinery | | products | | | revenue | JPY 22.3 billion (FY 2018) | | net_income | JPY 1.1 billion (FY 2018) | | num_employees | 849 (consolidated, as of March 31, 2019) | | website | | | footnotes | | ::

| name = Howa Machinery, Ltd. | native_name = 豊和工業株式会社 | native_name_lang = ja | logo = Howa logo.svg | logo_size = | type = Public (K.K) | traded_as =

| ISIN = | foundation = | hq_location_city = Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture 452-8601 | hq_location_country = Japan | key_people = Takahiro Tsukamoto (President) | industry = Machinery | products = | revenue = JPY 22.3 billion (FY 2018)

(US$ 202 million) | net_income = JPY 1.1 billion (FY 2018)

(US$ 10 million) | num_employees = 849 (consolidated, as of March 31, 2019) | website = | footnotes =

Howa Machinery, Ltd. is a Japanese machinery manufacturer known internationally for their production of military and civilian firearms. They also manufacture products such as machine tools, sweeping vehicles, windows and doors.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Power_Loom_by_Howa_Machinery.jpg" caption="Howa N-Type [[power loom]] on display at the [[Tokyo Institute of Technology"] ::

Toyoda's Loom Works, Ltd. was established by Sakichi Toyoda in February 1907. In 1941, Toyoda's Loom Works merged with Showa Heavy Industries and was renamed Howa Heavy Industries, Ltd.. The company was renamed to its current name at the end of World War II and restarted manufacturing textile machinery.

Weapon manufacturing

Military use

Toyoda's Loom Works began manufacturing armaments in 1932.

During World War II

Since 1940, Howa has been heavily involved in the Japanese armaments industry, and was involved in manufacturing the famous Arisaka rifle series including Type 99 rifle, parts of Type 38 rifle, artillery pieces, airplane parts, and ammunition. Many of their World War II-era weapons are highly sought after collector's items.

Post WWII

Howa created copies of the US M1 Garand and the M1 carbine for the Japanese Self Defense Forces during the early days of the Cold War.

Howa also designed and manufactured firearms for JGSDF use, including the following types (models):

During the early 1970s, Howa produced the AR-18 and AR-180 5.56mm assault rifle as a license from Armalite Inc. of Costa Mesa, California, which marketed the rifle to various military forces. Japanese government restrictions on the sales of military small arms to foreign countries eventually forced Howa to cease production of the AR-18/AR-180, moving production back to Armalite.

Civilian use

Howa has produced a long line of civilian hunting and target practice rifles in a range of calibers. Howa has also manufactured products or components for other firearm companies, such as Mossberg, Smith & Wesson, and Weatherby. The Smith & Wesson Model 1000 shotgun of the 1970s and 1980s was designed and manufactured by Howa.

  • Howa M300: Based on the M1 / M2 carbine military automatic rifle designed in the United States, it was developed for hunting and sports. Produced between 1960-1996.
  • Howa Golden Bear: A bolt-action rifle that was once manufactured by Howa Industries between 1967-1979.
  • Howa M1500: A bolt-action rifle, is produced in sporting, varmint and heavy barrel configurations, which are sold in the U.S. via Legacy Sports International. In Canada, various retailers stock Howa rifles, including Prophet River, Cabela's, and North Pro Sports. In the United Kingdom, Highland Outdoors imports the Howa rifles.

Sources

References

  1. "Company Information". Howa Machinery.
  2. "About the company". [[Financial Times]].
  3. "Company Profile". [[Nikkei Inc.]].
  4. Stephen Martin. (July 16, 2014). "The Economics of Offsets: Defence Procurement and Coutertrade". [[Taylor & Francis]].
  5. "TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION GLOBAL WEBSITE | 75 Years of TOYOTA | Part1 Chapter1 Section2 | Item 1. Establishment of Toyoda Loom Company".
  6. "Our History (Howa Machinery Firearms Dept.)".
  7. "Howa Machinery LTD. M1 Carbine".
  8. "The National Interest: Blog".
  9. David Westwood. (2005). "Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact". [[ABC-CLIO]].
  10. "Howa Type 64 7.62 mm automatic rifle (Japan), RIFLES".
  11. "Howa Type 89 - Infantry Weapons".
  12. (October 27, 2010). "Armalite AR-18".
  13. (2010-01-04). "A Historical Review of ArmaLite".
  14. "Exhibision (sic) of Equipments". Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces.
  15. "60式 106mm無反動砲".
  16. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 1967".
  17. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 1968-1969".
  18. (July 19, 2010). "Smith & Wesson Model 1000 Shotgun".
  19. "Legacy Sports' Howa Page". Legacy Sports.

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firearm-manufacturers-of-japancompanies-listed-on-the-tokyo-stock-exchangemanufacturing-companies-established-in-1907companies-based-in-aichi-prefecturemachine-tool-buildersjapanese-companies-established-in-1907japanese-brands