Japanese military observers in the European front of World War I noted the technical development and tactical application of hand grenades as infantry support weapons with considerable interest, and the Army technical bureau was tasked with a project to develop a grenade launcher that could be used in combination with the Type 38 rifle, the Japanese Army's standard infantry weapon.

The project failed for a variety of reasons, including too small a bore, too long a gun barrel and difficulties with a propellant.

The technical bureau then turned to a World War I-vintage German design for a small signal mortar, which was developed into the stand-alone Type 10 grenade discharger.

When used as a rifle grenade or mortar round, the fuse activated automatically, as the plunger was pushed in by the force of the launch.

One issue with the design was the highly variable and inaccurate fuse timing, which resulted either in premature explosion, or such a long delay that the recipient could hurl the grenade back prior to detonation.