| Type | General purpose machine gun | 
|---|
 | Place of origin |  Japan | 
 | Service history | 
 | In service | February 15, 1962–present | 
 | Used by | Japan | 
 | Wars | Cold War Iraq War
 | 
 | Production history | 
 | Designer | Masaya Kawamura | 
 | Designed | 1954 | 
 | Manufacturer | Sumitomo Heavy Industries | 
 | Unit cost | ¥2,000,000 (c. 1985) | 
 | Produced | 1962–present | 
 | Variants | See Variants | 
 | Specifications | 
 | Weight | 10.15 kg (22.38 lb) | 
 | Length | 1,200 mm (47.2 in) | 
 | Barrel length | 546 mm (21.5 in) | 
 | 
 | 
 | Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO | 
 | Action | Gas-operated | 
 | Rate of fire | 650 RPM | 
 | Maximum range | 1,000 m 1,500 m (with bipod)
 | 
 | Feed system | Belt-fed | 
 | Sights | Iron sights |