Howa Machinery, Ltd.

The Howa Type 89 is a selective-fire assault rifle manufactured by Howa Machinery, Ltd. It has been the standard service rifle of the Japan Self-Defense Forces since 1989, replacing the older Type 64 battle rifle.

The Howa Type 64 is a select-fire battle rifle designed by Howa Machinery for the Japan Self-Defense Forces and adopted in 1964. It is chambered in the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge and features a unique gas-operated piston system with a two-position gas regulator. The Type 64 has a wooden stock, a 20-round detachable box magazine, and a distinctive bipod that folds into the forend. It was designed specifically for the smaller average stature of Japanese soldiers, with a shorter length of pull and lower recoil. The Type 64 was the first indigenous self-loading rifle developed in Japan since World War II.

The Howa Mini Action is a scaled-down bolt-action rifle designed for compact cartridges. It was introduced to fill the gap between traditional short actions and rimfire rifles. The Mini Action uses the same two-lug bolt and HACT trigger system found in the Howa 1500. It is chambered in calibers like 6.5 Grendel, .300 Blackout, and .223 Remington. The rifle features a cold hammer-forged barrel and a three-position safety. It accepts standard AICS-pattern magazines for the reduced cartridge sizes.