In Japan, replicas of a sword from the Harry Potter film series have been recalled due to noncompliance with the nation’s stringent weapons regulations.
Warner Bros. Studio Japan LLC has been selling full-sized replicas of Godric Gryffindor’s sword, measuring 86cm (34 inches) and mounted on a wooden display plaque, from May 2023 until late April.
In November, authorities informed the company that the items were sharp enough to be classified as a sword.
Reports indicate that over 350 replicas of Godric Gryffindor’s sword have been sold, each priced at 30,000 yen ($200; £158).
The sword was sold at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter, a venue that opened in 2023 in Tokyo. The studio tour is being promoted as the first of its kind in Asia and is the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction globally.
Warner Bros. Studios Japan LLC has issued a recall notice for the sword on its website, highlighting “a distribution issue in Japan.” The company urges customers who purchased the item to contact it for “necessary action, including logistics and refund.”
Japan enforces stringent weapons regulations, prohibiting the possession of knives longer than 6 centimetres (2 inches). Those who violate this law may face a prison sentence of up to two years. According to the Firearms and Swords Control Law, replicas that possess sufficient sharpness to be categorised as swords must be registered with the appropriate authorities.
This requirement, however, does not apply to swords intended solely for training or decorative purposes, provided they cannot be sharpened.
Japan is known for its deficient levels of violence; however, incidents involving weapons do occur from time to time.
In Yokohama, a 78-year-old man found himself in police custody last year following an incident in which he allegedly assaulted his neighbour with a ceremonial samurai sword amid a dispute. In 2017, authorities discovered a samurai sword alongside several knives at a Tokyo shrine following a tragic attack that resulted in the deaths of three individuals.
