Arisaka Narakira - Arisaka Narakira

A man of great merit in weapons manufacturing. Born in Iwakuni, Suo Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture). Since being appointed as an instructor at the military cadet school in 1874 (Meiji 7), he devoted himself to improving weapons. After the decision to adopt rapid-firing guns was made by the Army in 1892, various domestic and foreign rapid-firing guns were compared, and his invention was found to be superior and was adopted as the Type 31 rapid-firing field gun. He also created the small-caliber, five-shot Type 30 infantry rifle, both of which were lighter and more mobile than Russian guns during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and contributed to Japan's victory. He also invented a tin fuse tube and a casting method using a type-making machine, which eliminated the need for precision machining and made it possible to urgently supply bullets in Japan, where the mechanical industry was still underdeveloped at the time. He served as chairman of the Artillery Council, director of the Artillery Arsenal, and head of the Army Technical Review Department. He was a lieutenant general in the Army.

[Hiroshi Ishiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

兵器製造の功労者。周防(すおう)国（山口県）岩国に生まれる。1874年（明治7）幼年学校教官に任ぜられて以来、兵器改良に没頭した。1892年陸軍で速射砲採用決定後、内外の速射砲が各種比較されたなかで、彼の発明が優れており、三十一年式速射野砲として採用された。小口径かつ5連発の三十年式歩兵銃も創製し、いずれも日露戦争（1904～1905）ではロシアの銃砲に比べ、軽量で行動力に勝り、日本の勝利に貢献した。また信管の加量筒をスズ製とし、活字製造機での鋳造を考案、機械工業の未発達な当時の日本で、精密機械加工を省略し、急を要する弾丸補給を可能とした。砲兵会議議長、砲兵工廠(ほうへいこうしょう)提理、陸軍技術審査部長を歴任。陸軍中将。

［石山　洋］

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