Don, I agree with you, IMOP I think that for your money that AYA is an excellent gun, in price and workmanship.

Tanky, in going with what Chuck H said, don't be embarrased in saying about the quality of guns coming out of Japan. Look at all the things that are coming out of Japan. Who's fault is it, ours. Now kids come out of college, and if they stuck to their major, don't want to make a starting wage and start at the bottom, they want to make the big bucks, get all the vacation. The bottom line is they don't have any work ethic. Now the workers in Japan do. So in reality we are to blame.
As far as the quality of their gun work look at a Browning BSS sidelock, Winchester 101, Ithaca SxS's. All nicely made.

David