Tokyo Arsenal

Tokyo Arsenal proofmark. This proofmark was later used for the Kokura Arsenal.
Imperial Japanese Army Tokyo Arsenal
Company information
Country of origin	Empire of Japan
Headquarters	Koishikawa, Tokyo
Product types	Firearms, armament
Key people	Nariakira Arisaka Kijirō Nambu
Areas served	Japan
History
Founded	1871
Closed	1935
Fate	Closed
Affiliations
Owner(s)	State-owned
Other information
Other name(s)	Tokyo Arsenal Koishikawa Arsenal
Notable products	Murata rifle Arisaka rifle Type 26 revolver

The Imperial Japanese Army Tokyo Arsenal (日本帝国陸軍東京砲兵工廠 Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Tōkyō Hōhei Kōshō), commonly known as the Tokyo Arsenal (東京砲兵工廠 Tōkyō Hōhei Kōshō) was a Japanese state-owned arsenal that was active from 1871 to 1935. One of the more active Japanese arsenals, the Tokyo Arsenal produced a large amount of armaments for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War I and beyond. Located in Koishikawa, Tokyo, the arsenal is also known as the Koishikawa Arsenal (小石川工廠 Koishikawa Kōshō) due to this.

History

The Tokyo Arsenal was opened in 1871 in Koishikawa, Tokyo, some years after the Meiji Restoration; the arsenal occupied the former site of the residence of the Prince of Mito.

In 1893, the arsenal produced some 200 rifles and 200,000 cartridges daily. During World War I and other conflicts, the Arsenal was notably more active as most of Japan's small arms were produced at the Tokyo Arsenal, including the Arisaka and Murata rifles.

Come 1923, however, the arsenal suffered severe structural damage owing to the Great Kantō earthquake; it was decided not to repair the damage of the arsenal due to insurmountable costs. The premises were vacated in October 1935, with operations of the arsenal transferring to the Kokura Arsenal in Kyushu.

The land where the Tokyo Arsenal once stood is located inside Koishikawa-Kōrakuen, with remnants of the original arsenal building located around the garden.

Products

The arsenal produced many of Japan's small arms, including:

• Type A - pistol
• Type 26 - revolver
• Arisaka - bolt action rifle
• Type 13 - bolt action rifle

Many of these arms would continue to be produced by the Kokura Arsenal after the Tokyo Arsenal closed.

Managers

The arsenal was managed by the following individuals from the following time periods:

• MajGen Seiichi Nishimura: 29 June 1900 – 30 November 1910
• MajGen Masayo Hyōdō: 30 November 1910 – 22 August 1913
• MajGen Tarō Miyata: 22 August 1913 – 10 August 1920
• LtGen Zensuke Matsuura: 10 August 1920 – 15 August 1922
• LtGen Kijirō Nambu: 15 August 1922 – October 1935