The Mitsui-marked guns were indeed the same as the Ithaca imports. Ithaca dropped SKB mainly because the guns had become too expensive compared to the competition (BSS and Citori from Browning and also Beretta in the case of OU's. There were also Beretta sxs--the GR's, and then the 424-426 series--but never nearly as many of those imported as either SKB or BSS.) The absence of the Raybar sight is probably the main differentiating feature between the Ithaca imports and the Mitsui-marked guns.
IMO, the Ithaca SKB's remain some of the best buys on the used sxs market. Of course you're stuck with an SST--albeit a pretty good one--and a beavertail on all models except the 100, and a PG on all except the 280 and seldom-seen 480.
