Library Wars

Library Wars (Japanese title: 図書館戦争, Toshokan sensō) is a 2013 Japanese dystopian action-drama film directed by Shinsuke Sato, based on the light novel series of the same name by Hiro Arikawa. The film takes place in an alternate future where the Japanese government passes a law known as the Media Betterment Act to prevent the spread of literature and information deemed dangerous using a militarized government agency known as the Media Betterment Committee (MBC). In response, local governments set up the Library Defense Force, a paramilitary force dedicated to defending libraries from the Media Betterment Committee and their allies. The film was followed by a sequel, Library Wars: The Last Mission, in 2015.
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=Pistols=
==Minebea P9==
The main sidearm of the LDF is the Minebea P9, a licensed copy of the SIG-Sauer P220 manufactured by Minebea and Shin Chuo Kogo KK. LDF soldiers, including Library Clerk First Class Iku Kasahara (Nana Eikura) and Captain Ryusuke Genda (Jun Hashimoto), use these pistols.
==Heckler & Koch USP Compact==
The Bakushukai and their leader Kenji Takeyama (Kazuma Suzuki) use the Heckler & Koch USP Compact as their standard sidearms.
=Submachine Guns=
==Minebea M-9==
The LDF's primary submachine gun is the Minebea M-9, a copy of the Mini Uzi manufactured under license by Minebea. Many of the M-9s in the film are 3-D-printed non-firing replicas complete with detachable magazines, functioning charging handles, and real-steel flash suppressors, with CGI muzzle flashes and reports added post-production. Blank-firing M-9s (provided by the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces) were used in some scenes.
thumb|600px|none|A row of M-9s in the library's armory. The perspective makes it hard to distinguish their triggers from their trigger guards. All of the M-9s have been stored with their magazines inserted.
thumb|600px|none|Another angle of the M-9s stored in the library's armory.
thumb|600px|none|Kasahara patrolling with her M-9. She never gets to fire it, though. Note the distinct flash suppressor.
thumb|600px|none|Reporter Maki Orikuchi points her camera at Kasahara and Tezuka, both wielding M-9s.
thumb|600px|none|Tezuka after providing covering fire with his M-9. Note the smoke coming from the weapon.
thumb|600px|none|Lieutenants Mikihasa Komaki (Kei Tanaka) and Dojo, as well as other LDF soldiers, stand with M-9s. Many of the LDF extras were played by real JGSDF troops.
thumb|600px|none|Closeup of an M-9. Being an open-bolt weapon shows that the M-9's chamber is empty.
thumb|600px|none|An LDF soldier works the charging handle of his M-9. The M-9's front sight and distinct charging handle are both clearly visible.
thumb|600px|none|An LDF soldier reloads his M-9, inserting the magazine backwards. His M-9 later changes into a mocked-up Micro Uzi.
thumb|600px|none|LDF soldiers provide covering fire with their M-9s.
thumb|600px|none|Dojo and Komaki take on MBC operators with their M-9s. Note the brass flying out.
thumb|600px|none|Komaki lays down suppressing fire with his M-9 while Dojo reloads his.
thumb|600px|none|Dojo fires at advancing MBC operators while taking cover behind sandbags. Note the brass being ejected and the muzzle flash.
thumb|600px|none|Dojo, Komaki, and other LDF soldiers retreat up an escalator, firing their M-9's to cover their retreat. Komaki appears to be carrying a rubber stunt replica.
thumb|600px|none|A Minebea M-9 lays next to a Howa Type 89.
thumb|600px|none|An LDF soldier who arrives to assist Komaki is holding an M-9. The M-9 lacks an accessory rail to mount a flashlight, so the LDF soldier has to hold it with his left hand.
===Bonus===
==Tokyo Marui MP5-J==
The MBC mainly uses the Tokyo Marui MP5-J (in reality, an airsoft copy of the MP5F variant of the Heckler & Koch MP5). Many are equipped with Surefire 628 forearms and flashlights and some have receiver-mounted rails.
thumb|none|400px|A Tokyo Marui MP5-J airsoft gun. Note the shape of the flash hider compared to a genuine MP5A5.
==Heckler & Koch MP5A4==
The Heckler & Koch MP5A4 also appears as the other standard submachine gun of the MBC. These weapons are occasionally seen outfitted with Surefire 628 forearms. At least one is equipped with a tri-rail forend, though it doesn't have any attachments mounted to it. 
==Micro Uzi (Mocked-up as Minebea M-9)==
For some reason, not enough Minebea M-9s were available for the LDF extras during production. The Micro Uzi was used as a stand in for the Minebea M-9 for some scenes. The folding stock appears to have been removed.
==Unknown MP5 Variants==
=Automatic Rifles=
==Howa Type 89==
The Howa Type 89 is the main assault rifle of the LDF. The two Type 89s that are fired in the film were actual blank-firing rifles provided by the JGSDF, with airsoft replicas only used for closeups. Kasahara, Tezuka, and other Library Task Force soldiers can be seen conducting drills with them.
thumb|400px|none|Howa Type 89 - 5.56x45mm
thumb|600px|none|Kasahara crawling under barbed wire with a Type 89.
thumb|600px|none|Dojo swaps his Minebea M-9 for a wounded LDF soldier's Type 89. Oddly enough, none of the LDF soldiers on the ground were seen using Type 89 rifles against the MBC.
thumb|600px|none|An LDF door gunner firing his Type 89 at advancing MBC forces below from a UH-60JA Blackhawk (which was borrowed from the JGSDF during production). Note the brass being ejected.
thumb|600px|none|Closeup of the LDF door gunner's Type 89. The muzzle flash and brass being ejected appear to be genuine, and not post-production CGI typical of Japanese films. It is possible that the door gunner was played by an actual JGSDF soldier.
thumb|600px|none|Dojo providing covering fire with a Type 89.
thumb|600px|none|Brass being ejected from the Type 89. For some reason, the fire selector markings are missing. It's possible that this weapon is an airsoft blowback replica or a cap-firing model gun.
thumb|600px|none|Dojo reloading his Type 89; displaying excellent trigger discipline. The fire selector markings have reappeared on the receiver.
thumb|600px|none|Closeup of Dojo's Type 89. Note the blank-firing adapter inside the barrel. It's possible that the film's armorers used both airsoft and a blank-firing Type 89 for this scene.
thumb|600px|none|The Type 89's unused bipod is clearly visible. Note the flash coming out of the Type 89's distinct muzzle brake.
==Howa Type 64==
The Howa Type 64 is used by the LDF as a training rifle for all recruits prior to indoctrination, most noticeably by Library Clerk First Class Hikaru Tezuka (Sota Fukushi) and Iku Kasahara (Nana Eikura). The scenes which feature the Type 64 were filmed at JGSDF Camp Iruma, and all of the Type 64 rifles were real.
====Behind The Scenes====
==Norinco Type 56==
At least one Bakushukai militant is seen wielding a Norinco Type 56 in the film's intro.
==Unknown AK-47 Variant==
=Bolt-Action Rifles=
==Remington M24 Sniper Weapon System==
The M24 Sniper Weapon System is the LDF's standard sniper rifle, and is equipped with a Harris bipod. It's possible that these weapons are airsoft replicas, since none are seen ejecting brass, and the muzzle flashes appear to be post-production CGI.
=Grenades=
==M84 Stun Grenade==
Dojo throws an M84 stun grenade into a room during a hostage rescue.
=Other=
==M2 Flamethrower==
One of the Bakushukai militants uses an M2 Flamethrower to burn down the Hino Library.
Category:Action Movie
Category:Drama
Category:Japanese Produced/Filmed
Category:War
Category:Shinsuke Sato
Category:Kensuke Sonomura