This article details the process of importing weapons such as firearms and sword. This is regulated by the Firearms and Swords Possession Control Law .
Firearms and Swords Possession Control Law
The Firearms Control Law regulates the possession of swords*, guns, rifles, machine guns or artillery, gun cartridges, and gun parts (Article 3 to Article 3-6 of the Law).
Exceptions are:
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- When a “permit for possession” is obtained (Sections 4 and 6 of the Act); and
- When a “firearms and swords registration certificate” is obtained for old-style firearms and swords of artistic value.
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When importing unregistered old-style firearms or swords of artistic value from overseas, a “certificate of registration”.
Customs assumes that the product can be legally possessed after importation, so they will check the “possession permit”/”firearms and swords registration certificate”/”certificate of registration” or a copy of these in accordance with the Customs Law.
In addition, in relation to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law, the import of swords, guns, gun cartridges, and gun parts requires import approval from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
* “Swords” means swords with a blade length of 15 cm or more, javelins and naginatas, swords with a blade length of 5.5 cm or more, daggers, and flying knives with a device that automatically opens the blade at 45 degrees or more (Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Firearms Act).
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