Knives in Japan

L

LG&M

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Dec 19, 2005
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I am going to Japan for work soon. Can anyone tell me about Japan law concerning knives? I don't want to get into trouble but I would like to carry more then a SAK. Also anyplace to buy knives around Hyogo. Thanks
 
I would suggest you don't carry more than a small SAK. Knife laws in Japan are very strick/draconian. The assume that if you have a knife, that you are up to no good.
 
I read somewhere that a blade under 6CM or about 2 3/8" should be OK. Can any one confirm that?
 
any knife with an overall length of no more than 15 cm (about 5.9 in), with a blade length of no more than 6 cm, is legal to carry. Knives must be concealed and should not be easily available


:grumpy:
 
I would avoid travel to Japan, the UK and other areas that have such anti-knife laws. Take the tourist dollars away from them. If you are offered vacation packages to such places by travel agencies over the Internet, decline them and state the reasons why in a return e-mail. Eventually, the word will get around.
 
Thanks for the advice, This is a business trip but that doesn't mean I cant have some fun:)
 
The law here is very strict, and finding any govt agency who will actually tell you what it says is a nightmare. My advice is to leave your knives at home and pick up something here that you wouldn`t be upset having taken away from you if the cops saw it. As a foreigner you`re already considered a potential crimminal by the cops here.

Every school kid is required to have a box cutter in thier pencil case, but my students freaked out when i pulled out an old boyscout slipjoint to open a case of books. There`s no logic to the thinking about knives here.
 
I live in Okinawa, and I miss my knives. :) The JAGs briefed us when we got here that the rule was 3.1". However, an army friend of mine was briefed the 2 3/8th previously mentioned. A local English phone book that has a lot of tips about the culture says 2.5". So I carry a Spyderco MeerKat. I'd suggest you buy that or a Spyderco Chicago, otherwise you can get in a lot of trouble.
 
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