Smoke-free fire: the story of the legendary Japanese Arisaka rifle.

The end of the Edo period was marked by several innovations in military technology that improved the technological landscape following a two-century hiatus in Japan's interactions with European civilizations — from the mass production of personal firearms to sabers that undermined Japan's traditional slow and meticulous approach to craftsmanship. Perhaps the most significant innovation of all was the rifle that did not explode (literally) in the face of the infantryman.

Of course, I am referring to the Arisaka rifle.

The Origin of the Arisaka Rifle

Named after Nariakira Arisaka, the foremost weapons designer in Japan's history and a baron under Emperor Meiji, the standard infantry rifle of the Japanese Empire was likely inspired by the German 8mm Gewehr model of 1888 with a bolt-action mechanism. The adoption of European technology coincided with a cultural tsunami that swept through Japan, shattering the long-standing status quo: the Meiji Restoration. Throughout the 19th century, Japan was shedding the hierarchical samurai class that had long been at the pinnacle of the national army.

Who needs a handful of men studying the art of the sword for a lifetime when hundreds of soldiers can be sent for basic training for just a few months?

The new Japanese infantry, adopting Western-style military uniforms, was equipped with Arisaka Type 30 rifles — a significant improvement over the Murata series rifles, which were still using black powder at the time.

The Type 30 rifle was chambered for the 6.5×50 mmSR cartridge and featured a bolt-action system with an internal magazine for five rounds. Despite its modern design, the shortcomings of the rifle, such as inadequate stopping power and inability to perform in harsh conditions, became evident during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

In response, Japanese military forces transitioned to the Type 38 model in 1905. This version retained the 6.5 mm cartridge but improved its strength and reliability. The Type 38 became the primary weapon of the Japanese military, remaining in service for decades.

Arisaka: Striking the World

Field tests of the Arisaka were successfully conducted during the aforementioned Russo-Japanese War, and the world was shocked by the news that an Asian power had defeated a European army. This lent Japan, and consequently the Arisaka rifle, prestige on the global stage as a weapon that could stand comparison with German, British, or American counterparts.

The rifle followed the expansion of the Japanese colonial empire — from the conquest of Taiwan and Korea to continental China.

On the eve of World War II, Arisaka rifles became an integral part of the Imperial Japanese Army. Millions of Type 38 rifles and the updated, more refined Type 99 were produced to equip troops who were set to expand the territorial holdings of the Land of the Rising Sun and acquire the natural resources necessary for its sustenance. Essentially, the Arisaka rifle, which became the standard rifle of the Japanese Empire, was the swan song of the Hirohito Empire.

Specifications During World War II

In the early stages of the war, Japanese forces equipped with Type 38 and Type 99 rifles successfully engaged poorly armed adversaries in China and Southeast Asia. The rifle was highly praised for its reliability and assistance in the rapid advance of infantry.

As the war progressed and Japan faced increasingly well-equipped Allied forces, the shortcomings of the Arisaka rifle became more apparent. Although the rifles were durable and accurate, they were outmatched by the semi-automatic M1 Garand rifles of the U.S. military, which offered superior rate of fire. By 1944-1945, as American forces drove Japanese troops from colonized territories, the quality of Arisaka rifles noticeably declined.

Thus, the Arisaka rifle perished along with the Japanese Empire. Nevertheless, captured Arisaka rifles found a new life after the war: Allied forces brought this infantry weapon home as war trophies, while Chinese and Korean troops utilized it in the early stages of the Korean War.

About the Author

Lake Dodson is an assistant editor at National Interest. His interests include Korean-American relations, cybersecurity policy, and nuclear energy/weapons policy. He is currently studying the Korean language, has taken courses on North-South Korean relations, and conducted various experiments on the AGN-201K nuclear reactor at the prestigious Kyung Hee University in Suwon, South Korea. He is particularly interested in effective nuclear energy policy, cybersecurity, as well as the economy and politics of East Asia. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi.