So I bought this swiss knife from Seria. The blade is 6.3 centimeters. However, the entire length (the blade and the rest of the body) is more that 6.3 centimeters obviously. To my knowledge the law allows you to carry a swiss army knife that has a blade less than 6 cm. Now I’m confused, because I’ve read different articles stating different lengths. Also the laws are about blade sizes. But since I’m a foreigner, the police may take the size of the entire size of the knife? If anyone knows anything about knives and laws regarding carrying the knives, I’d really appreciate your input. And disclaimer, back in my home country I was a collector of different types of survival knives, pocket knives and mainly swiss army knives. I find them to be really cool. And I feel like I should write this part in capital letters, I JUST LIKE SWISS ARMY KNIVES AND I DO NOT INTEND ANY HARM TO ANY LIVING BEING. THIS IS JUST A HOBBY AND I AM JUST CURIOUS. THANK YOU.
P.S: Did Shinzo Abe just get shot?
14 comments
You’ve got one of the medium sized victorinox single blade knives. My favorite EDC knife. The perfect size for cutting up boxes, food, opening letters, whittling, cleaning fish, etc..
Also illegal unfortunately. They measure from where the metal of the blade begins not just the sharp area. The only legal to carry victorinox knives are the tiny useless ones.
They measure the entire blade (from where it meets the handle/scales), not just the cutting edge. The knife is illegal to carry unless it’s part of your camping gear when you’re actually going camping, or part of your fishing tackle (and in a tackle box).
Why would you even want to carry a knife with you ? If you are a collector, then leave the knife at home, problem solved.
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And yes, he did get shot.
“Everyday carry” is illegal in Japan, regardless of how big the knife is.
You must have a justifiable reason to even have tools in your car, much less carry a pocket knife.
I’ve had this on my keychain for years, total length of metal blade about 4cm, legal?
https://item.rakuten.co.jp/sowaka-online-shop/3237-000783/?scid=af_sp_etc&sc2id=af_113_0_10001868&icm_cid=16058242721&icm_agid=135536277329&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1s2iqLDo-AIV1WOLCh0ZIwYfEAQYCSABEgIYaPD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADoVjpirsc8eo1NsiZ1jb1BPw1o9p&iasid=wem_icbs_&icm_acid=255-776-8501
owning a knife isn’t against the law. carrying it around with you all the time is. I a chef am not allowed to keep my knives with me in a bag at all times for example. I also brought my late fathers pocket knife with me when I came to Japan. If I were to get caught carrying it around I would be in some deep shit more than likely. All this is to say be careful carrying it around with no purpose.
Back in 2009, a 74 year old tourist spent 10 days in jail for a pocket knife. Not worth the potential trouble, imo.
The legal limit to not violate the 銃刀法違反, gun and sword law, is something like 3.5 cm blade length I think.
However, they can still confiscate any blade based on the 軽犯罪法, minor crime law, and if you’re a foreigner, they might go further.
I’m Japanese and the police stopped me once to search my bags and found a multi tool with a knife. I pulled the i-was-raised-in-the-US card and cooperated with them and they let me keep the knife and just told me not to bring it out anymore. I asked them if it’s no good even if the blade is less than 3.5 cm and they told me about the 軽犯罪法. Basically a blanket law that covers everything.
That was 10 years ago and I still carry one every day. But I think being a foreigner will carry different risks for you so I wouldn’t suggest it.
Yes, Abe-san got shot and will likely be dead by the end of the day. That means security will be heightened, which means foreigners will be checked more, which means that foreigners caught with Swiss army knives on them will be in trouble.
>P.S: Did Shinzo Abe just get shot?
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODS
Keep it simple. Do not carry a knife ever. It doesn’t matter if the blade is small, you’ll still be seen as a “suspicious person”. The police will still ask you to empty your bag, or will search your car. It’s not worth the bother.
I have two lovely opinel knives. Both illegal. I use them for camping.
Keep the blade at home and don’t carry it in public; it’s not worth the potential hassle.
I have the same knife; got it as a high school graduation present from an outdoorsy uncle in upstate New York; he is never without his. I used to use it as a key chain and liked having those tools while out on bike rides. But when these rules came in, I swapped it for just an Allen wrench. It really is unfortunate, but the last thing you want to be doing is arguing the fine points of the law with a police officer, who will almost certainly pretend that the law is whatever he wants it to be at that moment.
I bought a machete off Amazon, hoping to clear overgrown brush off my favorite hiking trails. Took it out with me once, in my backpack, but was afraid to pull it out just in case I ran into other hikers who might get freaked out and call the police. Thinking back now, it was crazy to have ever even brought it with me. I might even be on some list that the Japanese equivalent of the CIA has, of people who have bought them off Amazon!! Paranoia! Funny though, that you can even buy this kind of stuff on Amazon!
People, don’t feel like the lone foreigners.
I inherited two very Japanese and very outdoorsy brothers-in-law, and both get stopped and searched on occasion on their way to or from the station for a camping trip. Of course, a knife is in the backpack, and of course do they explain the knife is for camping purposes, with the rest of the camping gear in the bag brought into evidence. Police wishes a happy camping trip. Of course, would the bag contain a lock pick set, a crowbar, and a hoodie, things would turn out differently.
And no, I don’t recommend walking around with a pocket knife in Japan, no matter the length of the blade.