Deep in the heart of Aichi Prefecture is the headquarters of an engineering company founded 100 years ago to make textile looms. Having borne the name Howa Machinery, Ltd. since 1945, today its products range from window frames to road-sweepers -- but it also derives around 12 percent of its business from weapons sales. In fact, 2004 marks the 40th year since its Type 64 rifle and 81mm mortar were selected by the Defense Agency for use by the Self-Defense Forces.
A Mitsubishi F-2B fighter-trainer
That the sole Japanese maker of rifles is so long established and diversified should come as no surprise, since many of Japan's oldest companies -- including household names such as Hitachi and Toshiba -- operate divisions that rely on defense contracts to generate profits.