Made in Japan? Yes. The Vanguard and 1500 share an action, but the Vanguard comes in a few cals the 1500 dosent, and is built to weatherbys specs, longer barrel etc. I have a Howa 1500 Lightning, Its the basic Howa rifle with a Hogue (says so on the recoil pad) type stock sans overmold rubber. I actually prefer it as i dont like the rubber coatings, they grab cloths and anything that you slide the rifle across. My rifle is in 6.5 Creedmoor, and shoots very well. Ive only got about 40rnds down range from it (basicly ignored howas break in procedures besides avoiding heating up the gun), best groups run under an inch with hornady bullets.
These guns, If my sample is anything to go by, are very well made, robust, and nicely finished. Much more so than their, just above entry level price would suggest.
Down side, they ARE heavy, my gun out weights all but my much larger framed magnum rifles. Ill grab exact weight in the morning, my daughters sleeping next to the gun cabinet....