Brownings
For all practical purposes the M1919 Browning .30 caliber became the American GPMG of the Pacific war. Heavy as it was, it was more portable and could compete with the Type 92.
Yes. IJAAS was not stuck on stupid. Their IJA infantry weapons directorate was.
It was the First Sino-Japanese War. Short version is that when they tried the British supplied machine guns out in Taiwan, cloth belts rotted, the heat and wet caused uneven parts expansion and mechanical jams and slippages and their ammunition HATED the guns. The ammunition problem (corrosion of cases) they never solved, but Hotchkiss guns, with their oversized and overpressured adjustable gas powered systems could function even with crappy Japanese ammunition and ran and ran and the metal stripper clips were just what the doctor ordered. Slower rates of fire and awkward feeds but the guns ran and ran. The Japanese Type 92, their version of the Hotchkiss HMG (the woodpecker) was RELIABLE in Pacific conditions.
See my remarks regarding Japanese ammunition.
Thank you that makes perfect sense and explains their choices in that matter
I note that the 30 round strips were supplied in paper or cloth (I assume in both cases oiled or waxed to prevent corrosion) and as they are based on the Hotchkiss design I assume that they can be linked by the loader during pauses in firing to prevent having to reload
So for all intents and purposes the Type 92 is probably good enough for them - and while heavy the carry poles worked well for their doctrinal approach for rapid infantry advances without having to break the gun down and another weapon system might not 'fit'.