I was kind of thinking more along the lines of a Mauser Gewehr 1898.
Try getting some 0000 steel wool and some gun oil. Try cleaning the area directly above the forward area of the bolt and also on the left side of the barrel below the rear site. Maybe some kind of lettering will show.
If I were guessing, I would agree and say Springfield 1903. It's definitely military and the secret's probably going to be found in the sights. It looks a little short to be Jap.
I agree that it is a military bolt action from the 20th century. From the pic you provided, the Ariska is probably a good bet. A lot were brought back as war trophies after WWII, and then more were sold later for very little money.If it is a Japanese it should have a chysanthemum on the top of the reciever, right behind the barrel. Unless it was ground off.
Anyway, my two memorial cents
I carried a Springfield '03 for 4yrs,and that just doesn't seem to be the same.Of course,that was58yrs ago and a lot of things don't seem the same to me anymore.My wife especially.