https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/news/2019/12/06b.html
Also, H&K SFP9(known as VP9 in US) will be the standard issue pistol.
For rifles, the contenders were HK 416 and FN SCAR-L, and for pistols Beretta APX and Glock 17.
No words on production date, but considering it took years to replace Type 89, it will be a long time for HOWA 5.56 to be issued to everyone.
This is a drawing supposedly to be that of HOWA 5.56
