Knife Regulations in Japan?

Thanks yllwsmrf for your making good!
And I'm sorry, I made an oversight.

The text of the law in Japanese without translation.
e“–@(Firearms and Swords Control Law)
http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S33/S33HO006.html
Œy”ƍߖ@(Petty Offense Law)
http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S23/S23HO039.html

The former prohibit the possession of dangerous arms.
And the latter prohibit carrying the aggressive tools without a justifiable reason.
I put faith in the police, but it's true, they can detain almost all men by arbitrary application of "Petty Offense Law".

Wow. The story from JapanTimes is so frightening and shows such a lack of judgement on the part of the police. This story will make me seriously reconsider visiting japan. It would be terrifying to be jailed for days in japan.

As it would be terrifying to be jailed in any country. But the chances that you would be the victim of police injustice in Japan or other first world countries is so rare its not even worth worrying about. I wouldn't let a scary story on the internet persuade you from visiting Japan or otherwise enjoying life.

The link that ajapaneseboy posted says that Swords and Firearms Control act was ammended to prohibit blades from 5.5 to 15cm. There is no mention of regulation on knives shorter than 5.5cm

Itfs the second law that ajapaneseboy posted. You just get charged under a different law if the knife is under 5.5cm.

I rather a petty offense than be charged with carrying an illegal weapon, which I presume would be a felony. The jailing thing was only because he didn't sign the "I'm sorry form :("

Hi.

Today's news for reference.
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG03017_T01C12A1CC1000/

OUTLINE;
Yesterday, in Tokyo, about 1 a.m, a Tokyo resident (male, 66y.o.) was arrested by "Firearms and Swords Control Law" for having a folding knife that's length of a blade is 6.8cm.
A policeman found it in dashboard of his stopped car.
And he also gave a vague answer about why he carried it and why he was here.

But folding knife is exceptionally allowable by 8cm.
So police recognize their wrong and release him.

At the same time, he was arrested again by "Petty Offense Law" for carrying the aggressive tools without a justifiable reason.