Miroku

Miroku began in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan, where Kuraji Miroku started making hunting guns in Noichi-cho, Kami-gun, in February 1893.² His son Bukichi became the company's first president.^{3, 4} Miroku Kosakusho, the predecessor of Miroku Firearms Mfg. Co., was established on 5 July 1946.¹

Miroku resumed hunting-gun production in March 1951, after the Ministry of International Trade and Industry gave it permission to manufacture.⁵ It began making side-by-sides in 1952 and over-and-unders in 1961.^{6, 7} In May 2003 the company became a holding company, and a new subsidiary took over the hunting-gun business.¹ Miroku sells guns under its own B.C. Miroku brand in Japan, Europe and Oceania.⁴

Miroku moved its head-office plant to 180 Inaricho, Kōchi City, in January 1960.⁸ The plant moved again in June 1972, to 537-1 Shinohara, Nankoku City.⁹ Miroku completed its Nissho factory in Nankoku Nissho Industrial Park in February 2025.¹⁰ According to Miroku's September 2026 presentation, the factory has been in full operation since February that year.^{11, 12}

The firearms group divides its work among Miroku Firearms, which produces and sells guns; Nangoku Miroku, which makes wooden stocks and components; and Miroku Kougei, which engraves firearms and other metal items.¹³ Nangoku Miroku has its headquarters and gun-stock factory at Shinohara in Nankoku City.¹⁴ Its parts factory stands at 3 Techno Park in Tosa Yamada Town, Kami City.¹⁵ Its Yusuhara factory is at 2890 Iibo, Yusuhara Town.¹⁶

Miroku dates its sales and technology alliance with Browning to December 1966.¹⁷ Browning describes the partnership as a continuation of its tradition of working with other manufacturers.¹⁸ The Citori project supplemented the Superposed, which continued to be made in Belgium.¹⁹ In October 1970 Miroku formed a separate technical partnership with FN Herstal.²⁰