Although I understand that there is already Mr. Masaaki Ishida's introduction to gun ownership in Japan, I will attempt to contribute some more information specific to gun powder-powered firearms (rim fire and center fire weapons) and related laws and regulations including hunting license in my version of an introduction to firearms ownership in Japan.
Note that the information I am quoting is more than 10 years old, therefore for more recent figures and information, Mr. Ishida's post, which can be found in rec.guns FAQ, should be helpful. Also note that my post provides ownership of gun powder-powered firearms only, therefore those who are interested in air-powered or CO2 gas-powered guns should refer to Mr. Ishida's article.
I hope this post is informative to you.
Tetsuya Nishimura
1 Introduction
2 Regulations and Restrictions for Firearms Ownership
2.1 General Requirements for Firearms Ownership
2.2 Political Environment of Firearms Ownership
3 Shotgun Ownership
3.1 Age Requirement and Purpose of Use
3.2 Minor Recommendation
3.3 Application Procedures
3.3.1 Lecture for Hunting Firearms and Other Firearms
3.3.2 Shooting Instruction Qualification Admittance Application
3.3.3 Shooting Instruction
3.3.4 Firearms Ownership Permit Application
4 Rifle Ownership
4.1 Age Requirement, Purpose of Use and Experience
4.2 Recommendation from Japan Rifle Shooting Association (JRSA)
4.3 Application Procedures
5 Handguns Ownership
5.1 Legal Requirements and Conditions
6 Hunter License
6.1 Types of Hunter License
6.2 Legal Requirements
6.3 Application Procedures
6.3.1 Hunter License Application
6.3.2 Hunter License Examination
6.3.3 Hunter Registration
7 Firearms You Can Own in Japan
7.1 What You Can Own and What You Cannot
7.1.1 Long Guns and Firearms in General
7.1.2 Handguns
7.2 Categories of Rifle Calibers for Specific Shooting Sports
8 References
Firearms Ownership in Japan 1. Introduction Owning firearms in Japan is not impossible, contrary to ever popular myth believed among many shooters and non-shooters alike in the world. Even though the procedures involved are harder and more complicated than in, say, the U.S., and there are far fewer selections of types of guns and calibers, you can still own firearms and enjoy hunting in Japan. The main purpose of this article is to provide correct and practical, if not up-to-date, information about how to own firearms in Japan. Most information included in this article is more than 10 years old, however, it should reflect more reality than any myths or rumors floating around about firearms ownership in Japan. This article covers the basic legal requirements and conditions involved in firearms ownership application, application procedures for shotguns and rifles, hunter license application and procedures, and what gun you can and cannot own in Japan. There are some monetary figures shown in the article, which are as of 1983. You can possibly apply the current exchange rate, 101 yen to $1. But for your (and my) calculation convenience, 100 yen = $1 is quite appropriate. If a figure says 10,000 yen, you simply take two zeroes off and it's approximately $100. The related laws and regulations in this article are based on the Firearms and Swords Control Law which was revised and effective on November 21st, 1980. Where needed, my notes are added as (TN note: ). 2 Regulations and Requirements for Firearms Ownership 2.1 General Requirement for Firearms Ownership If you fit any one of the following criteria, you cannot be granted a firearms ownership permit. 1 You are a mental patient, marijuana or drug addict, or mentally disabled (mentally retarded, nervous breakdown, hysteric). 2 You do not have a legitimate residence/address. 3 Five years have not passed since your firearms permit was revoked. However, this does not apply if your firearms permit was revoked because your guns did not see much use (Nemuri Juu: literally "sleeping guns") or if the permit was revoked because you as a professional rifle hunter changed your occupation. (TN note: This exemption is to accommodate some rifle hunters who have been engaging in the profession before WW II.) 4 Five years have not passed since the last day of the execution of the sentence if you were sentenced to a penalty heavier than fining for illegal possession of firearms, swords and other weapons. 5 Five years have not passed since the last day of the execution of the sentence if you were sentenced to a penalty heavier than fining for murder, burglary, sexual assault, abduction, injuring, blackmailing and other serious offenses using firearms and swords or knives with a blade 6 cm in length. 6 Ten years have not passed since the last day of the execution of the sentence if you were sentenced to a penalty heavier than fining for murder, burglary, sexual assault, abduction, injuring, blackmailing and other serious offenses (punishable by death, life sentence or three or more years in prison with labor or without labor) using firearms and swords or knives with a blade 6 cm in length. 7 You are a person, considered or believed by authority with credible and reasonable evidence, who might harm other's life or property, or public safety. You were sentenced for murder, burglary, injuring and other serious offenses, and may repeat the offense(s), or you are what is called a violent organization (yakuza) member. 8 You provided false information or did not state facts for important sections when filling out the application form to apply for a firearms permit. Some of other cases where granting a permit can be denied are that someone who fits Item 7 above is in your family, and that five years have not passed since the last day of the execution of the sentence if you were sentenced to a penalty graver than fining for violation of safe keeping of firearms or violation of transaction of firearms. 2.2 Political Environment of Firearms Ownership Even though Japan is a very gun-unfriendly country, there are at least political views legally recorded about firearms ownership in Japan. It may be interesting to note such views here for your data point. The following is excerpts concerning firearms ownership from the Dietary Minutes No. 3 and 4 from the House of Councillors Local Administration Committee at the 91st National Diet Session (April 18th, 1980) and the Dietary Minutes No. 20 from the House of Representatives Local Administration Committee at the 91st National Diet Session (May 8th, 1980). This information was quoted from an article by Kaoru Wachi (Wachi, 1982). 1 Firearms sports are healthy sports thus the majority of owners of firearms who engage in the sports are good sports persons. 2 Ownership limitation and tightening regulations as part of firearms administration should be imposed strongly on illegal owners such as violent organizations (yakuza) and serious criminals, and for the majority of innocent citizen owners and ownership applicants, the restrictions should be minimal. 3 Denial of reception of a firearms ownership application is not appropriate. Simple mistakes in filling out the form and order of documents should be treated flexibly. 4 Background/status check of an applicant should be about one calendar month, and as it being a goal, local administrative offices will be advised to achieve this goal. 5 If the use or purpose of each firearm is clear and reasonable, there is no limit for the number of firearms owned by one individual. 6 Items to be checked in background check should be the same throughout the nation, and only limited items should be covered to necessity so that it will not violate human rights. 7 Revocation of a permit for a firearm which has not seen use for three years (sleeping gun) should be flexible if there is a legitimate reason such as sickness and a long-term work related relocation. 8 Inspection of a firearms storage place/space is performed only when it is necessary, and a great attention should be paid in order not to violate human rights and privacy by determining necessary conditions and the manner the inspection is performed. It may be surprising to many of the readers (including myself) that Japan actually has had this kind of attitude towards firearms ownership in recent years. Of course, whether actual execution of such views is different from the above is another story for those politicians... Also, because of the recent AUM religious sect gas attack (1995) on the Tokyo subway system and other firearms related incidents, there are actually some movements to tighten the restrictions going on. 3 Shotgun Ownership 3.1 Age Requirement and Purpose of Use The following is age requirement and purpose of use of a firearm you are applying an ownership permit for. -Anyone that fulfills the basic legal requirement (see 2.1) and 20 years of age or older. The purpose of ownership may be either target shooting or hunting, or both. -Anyone that fulfills the basic legal requirement, 18 or 19 years of age, and has a Minor Recommendation from the Japan Rifle Shooting Association. The purpose of ownership is limited to target shooting only. 3.2 Minor Recommendation A minor (18 or 19 years of age) can obtain a Minor Recommendation from the Japan Rifle Shooting Association if he is shooting to be a candidate for or selected as a competition shooter for the National Athletic Meeting. His scores in air rifle/pistol shooting will be greatly taken into consideration. 3.3 Application Procedures 3.3.1 Lecture for Hunting Firearms and Other Firearms Lectures are given almost every month throughout Japan. Signing up is done through a gun shop or a local police station. When you decide on the date, fill out the sign-up form and stamp your seal (note: every adult Japanese has a personal/family seal which is stamped on legal documents instead of signing), and turn in the form at a local police station with two picturers (35 x 24 mm) of yours. A receipt/admission ticket to the lecture will be issued immediately. When attending the lecture, you need the admission ticket, pencil and eraser, and a 3,000-yen revenue stamp (as of 1983) which is available at a local town office. The lecture includes classroom sessions for concerning laws and handling of firearms from around 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. with a lunch break, and about 40-minute written test on the learned materials. The question format is multiple choice with three choices to each question, and you pass with 70% or more correct answers. 10-20% of applicants are said to fail to pass the test. Sample questions and comprehensive guide are available from: Nihon Ryou-you Shizai Kougyou-kai (Japan Hunting Supplies Industry Association) Torii Bldg., 1-5-8 Yaesu, Chuuou-ku, Tokyo 103 JAPAN (as of 1983) When you pass the test, a certificate of completion will be issued to you, which you will need many times hereafter. 3.3.2 Shooting Instruction Qualification Admittance Application Kind of stupidly long and hard to understand, but in short you apply to be certified to be admitted to a Shooting Instruction session. You will need the following to apply. -Two photographs (35 x 24 mm) of yours (front bust shot, no hat, plain background, taken within past 6 months) -A photo copy of the Family Registration -Medical report (certifying that you are not a mental patient or controlled substances addict/abuser) -Certificate of completion of Lectures for Hunting Firearms and Other Firearms (see ***). -List of Family Members/Roommates (The form is available at a gun shop or a local police station, in which you provide the information about your family members or roommates living in the same residence; occupation, name, age, and the relationship to the applicant) -Personal Record/History (The form available at a gun shop or a local police station, in which you provide address you have lived at, criminal offenses history including serious traffic violations, firearms ownership history, and illness/sickness history especially about mental illness and drug addiction in the last ten years) -Application for Shooting Instruction Qualification Admittance Application Form, which is available at a gun shop or a local police station. With all documents and materials prepared, go to a local police station to file the application. About a month later, the admittance will be granted and a B5 paper size certificate is issued, which is valid only for three months. You will need a 4,000-yen revenue stamp (as of 1983) for the issuance. At the same time, you ask for a Gun Powder and Miscellaneous for Hunting Firearms Purchase Permit (1,200 yen as of 1983), with which you can purchase up to 300 shot shells needed for either trap or skeet instruction. Note that in Japan, if you say "hunting firearm/gun (Ryou Juu)," it often means shotguns. After receiving the permits, make a reservation for an instruction session at a designated shooting range, where they have instruction sessions often on a week day. 3.3.3 Shooting Instruction Session At the range, turn in the necessary papers (Gun Powder Transfer Permit, etc.) at the reception desk on the appointed day. The session includes lessons on safety handling of firearms and dis/reassembly of a rental gun in the morning, and a shooting session to follow in the afternoon. The morning lectures often start with watching comprehensive slides that cover the basic shooting manners, e.g., don't point the muzzle at anyone, etc., and shooting theories and positions involved in trap and skeet. After this, a textbook will be provided along which the rest of the lectures is done. A counterfeit gun as well as educational cut-away gun are used to enhance the understanding. Before the lunch break, every student will be provided with a real gun, for the first time in life for many to handle real ones, with which handling and dis/reassembling of the gun are taught. At this point, you have to decide which way, trap or skeet, you shoot when you take the shooting test for qualification in the afternoon. In the afternoon, you choose a gun for either trap or skeet depending on the decision you made in the morning and buy two or three boxes of shells depending on the rules at the range. Most often you get to shoot two boxes, one for practice and the other for qualification, but if three, first two boxes will be for practice. In any case, whether shooting trap or skeet, you shoot 25 shells for qualification, and hitting two targets in trap and three in skeet will pass you the test successfully. All guns shoot 12 gauge, 2-3/4" shells. For those who have chosen trap, five targets are first thrown at 10 degrees left, the next five targets at 5 degrees left, then center, then 5 degrees right, and then 10 degrees right. The shooter will be told which direction the next target flies. No doubles are shot. The gun is mounted on the shoulder when you make a call. For skeet, you shoot from stations 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, and no doubles are shot. Four targets are shot from stations 1, 2, 3 (from low house) and 6 (from high house), and nine targets are shot from station 7 (4 from high house, 5 from low house). Besides hitting designated number of targets in your session, your firearms handling and manner will be checked and scored deductively. When the total deduction reaches 20 points, you fail. Some of the items to be checked are; 1 point for actual shooting techniques (follow-through, firing timing, etc.), 3 to 5 points for minor mishandling of the firearm (fail to perform safety procedures, leaving live ammunition alone, etc.), and 10 points for major mishandling of the firearm (point the muzzle to a person, finger in the trigger guard before ready to shoot, etc.). If you, for example, happen to put your finger in the trigger guard twice before ready to shoot during the session, you are out. The test procedures may vary from shooting range to shooting range, and prefecture to prefecture, however, the essence is the same. The above is a typical examples found near Tokyo. 3.3.4 Firearms Ownership Permit Application When you pass the performance test at the shooting range, the certificate of completion is issued immediately. With this certificate, you go to a local police station to file your application for firearms ownership. You will need the following papers: -Two photographs -A photo copy of the Family Registration -Medical report -Certificate of completion of Lectures for Hunting Firearms and Other Firearms (see 3.3.1). -List of Family Members Living Together -Personal Record/History (above items are same as items in 3.3.2) -Certificate of Completion of Shooting Instruction -Bill of Transfer (provided by a gun shop) -Application for Firearms Ownership Permit (provided by a gun shop) Since the first seven items are the same as the ones mentioned in 3.3.2, it is wise to get two copies for each item when you prepare these for the first time. It takes about two weeks before the permit is issued. When you go to pick up the permit, you will need a 4,500-yen revenue stamp (as of 1983), your seal, and receipt which proves that you have bought a gun safe. When you receive the gun you ordered, you have to bring the gun and the permit to you local police station to have them confirm the actual gun and the one on the paper are the same. This should be done within 14 days after the initial transaction and transfer of the gun. You need not take the Shooting Instruction if you are buying additional shotguns, but you do need to take a different instruction when you are purchasing a rifle. The permit is valid for 3 years, and renewal is accepted one month through 15 days before your third birthday from the issuance of the permit. A total cost of the whole process, including range fee, targets, ammo, etc., is somewhere around 20,000 yen (as of 1983). When you fail to pass the shooting test, you have to start all over from Shooting Instruction Qualification Admittance Application. 4 Rifle Ownership 4.1 Age Requirement, Purpose of Use and Experience There are some experience factor involved in applying for a rifle ownership permit. The following describes the qualifications: -Anyone who fulfills the basic legal requirement (see 2.1) and 20 years of age or older, and possesses a recommendation from the Japan Rifle Shooting Association (JRSA). The purpose of use is limited to target shooting only. -Anyone who fulfills the basic legal requirement (see 2.1) and 18 or 19 years of age, and possesses a recommendation for minor from the JRSA (also see 3.1.2). The purpose of use is limited to target shooting only. -Anyone who has more than 10 years of experience in legal ownership of shotgun, and 20 years or age or older. The purpose of use may be target shooting or hunting. No recommendation is needed if one is applying for a hunting rifle, however, a recommendation from the JRSA is necessary when one is applying for a target rifle. One can engage in target shooting with his hunting rifle while his target rifle cannot be used in hunting. In the third qualification, "10 years of experience" means "10 consecutive years of experience." If, for some reason, you sell your shotgun after owning it for five years, and after one year of blank, you buy another shotgun and own it for additional five years, this doesn't count as 10 years. If you simply replace a shotgun with another after five years and own the new one for another five years, this does count as 10 years of experience. 4.2 Recommendations from the Japan Rifle Shooting Association (JRSA) If your purpose of use of a rifle is target shooting, you have to obtain a recommendation from the JRSA. The following are the three conditions you need to fulfill before requesting for a recommendation. -You must be a member of the JRSA. -You must attend and complete a rifle shooting education class organized by the JRSA, and hold a certificate of completion. -You must pass Grade 5 or higher qualification at a JRSA qualification session. In the AR-S40 (air rifle, standing, 40 shots), for example, scoring 200 points out of 400 points qualifies Grade 5. 4.3 Application Procedures The application procedures are almost identical to those of shotgun ownership application, except for the fees and shooting instruction session. 5 Handgun Ownership Handgun ownership among the civilians in Japan is almost non-existent except for some special cases. The following are the conditions for legal handgun ownership in Japan. 5.1 Legal Requirement and Conditions You must be: -a person who engages in experiment and development of firearms or ammunition for domestic production; -a person who signals at athletic games at the National Athletic Meeting and such; -a person who has been recommended and nominated by the Japan Athletic Association as a shooter or candidate for Olympic Games and such competitions. Even if you are granted a permit to possess, often you cannot keep the gun at home. Police officers and Self Defense Forces personnel are not allowed to bring their duty arms home either. As of 1995, handguns owned by civilians in Japan are said to be around 30 units out of more than 120 million population. In short, "legal" handgun ownership in Japan is impossible to ordinary citizens. 6 Hunter License 6.1 Types of Hunter License There are three types of hunter licenses in Japan as listed in the following, and you will need a Type Otsu license to hunt with your shotgun or rifle. Type Kou (or A for convenience) netting and trapping Type Otsu (or B) gun powder-powered rifles or shotguns Type Hei (or C) air/CO2 gas-powered rifles 6.2 Legal Requirement If you fit any one of the following criteria, you will not be granted a hunting license: 1 Three years have not passed since the last day of the execution of the sentence if you were sentenced to a penalty heavier than fining for violation of the Hunting Law. 2 Three years have not passed since your hunting license was revoked. 3 You are under 20 years of age. 4 You are a mental patient, mentally retarded or hysteric. 5 You are an addict or abuser of marijuana, drugs, and other controlled substances. 6 You have been suspended from taking the hunter license exam for cheating on the previous exam. 6.3 Application Procedures 6.3.1 Hunter License Application Hunter License Exams are given from mid April through October throughout the nation, and application is done by submitting a Hinter License Application Form to your Prefectural Governor. The following is what you need in application: -Hunter License Application Form -One photograph (35 x 24 mm, no hat, front bust shot, plain background, taken within past 6 months, and your name and the date the picture was taken should be written on the back side) -An envelop with return postage for delivery of your admission ticket. -Medical report that certifies you are not a mental patient or a drug addict/abuser. Hunting Firearms Ownership Permit holders exempted. -Test fee (about 3,000 yen as of 1983) Often gun shops or local hunter clubs can file the application for you. In such case you need to bring your photograph, seal and Firearms Ownership Permit along with the correct sum of application fee to a gun shop or a hunter club. 6.3.2 Hunter License Examination An admission ticket will be sent to you in a few days after you filed the application. You go take the exam at the specified time and place on the ticket. The exam covers the following: -physical aptitude test -hunting knowledge test -performance test The aptitude test examines your corrected eyesight, hearing and motor skills. If you can drive a car, you can pass. The knowledge test covers mainly Hunting Law as well as concerning Firearms and Swords Control Law in a written test format. You have 90 minutes to answer 30 multiple choice questions, in each of which you have three choices. 70% or higher score passes. During the lunch break that follows, the tests are scored and if you pass, you proceed to the performance test. About 10-30% of applicants are said to fail by this time. The performance test includes safe handling of firearms, giving and receiving of firearms, dis/reassembly, loading, mounting the firearm on your shoulder, carrying in a group, i.e., in line or in single file, and so on. Also included in the performance test are eye-measuring of distances and game animal identification. In the former you are told to measure three distances outside the window, usually close, middle and far points. The latter requires you to tell the animal's name and if the animal can be hunted the moment you are shown a picture of an animal. Another 10-20% of applicants are said to fail by this time. If you pass, your hunter license is issued before you go home. Local hunter clubs often provide pre-exam classes which are a great help in passing the exam. 6.3.3 Hunter Registration You need to register at a prefectural government whose jurisdiction you want to hunt in. The following materials are necessary for application: -Hunter Registration Application -Two photographs (35 x 24 mm) -Return envelop with correct postage -Certificate for your enrollment in a Hunting Accident Mutual Benefit activity, a copy of hunter insurance policy, or certificate about your assets -A photo copy of your Hunter License with the seal of the president of your local hunter club -Hunting Tax (registration 9,000 yen + hunting tax 6,000 = 15,000 yen; as of 1983) This can be also done at a gun shop or local hunter club. A few days after your filing the application, your Hunter Registration, Hunter's Pin (for identification), hunting map and so on will be sent to you from the prefecture(s) you are registering. 7 Firearms You Can Own in Japan 7.1 What You Can Own and What You Cannot There are, of course, regulations and limitations on what gun to own in Japan. If your gun fits any of the following criteria, you CANNOT own the firearm in Japan: 7.1.1 Long Guns and Firearms in General -Extraordinary-shaped firearms (cane gun, pen gun, etc.) -Defect firearms (defect trigger, broken barrel, etc. that are dangerous to others' safety) -Machineguns (any guns that go full-auto) -Holding 6 or more rounds in a magazine (for hunting shotguns, holding 3 or more rounds) -Caliber/gauge that is larger than the following: Rifle: 10.5 mm, Shotgun: 12 GA. (10.5 mm = approx. .42 caliber) -Overall length and/or barrel length that exceeds the following: Overall length: 93.9 cm, Barrel length: 48.8 cm (Barrel length = approx. 19-1/4") -Attached with a silencing device (poly-chokes and compensators are not silencing devices) 7.1.2 Handguns Center Fire Rim Fire caliber 7.62 - 9.65 mm 5.6 mm (.22 caliber) ammunition center fire, no magnum rim fire action type semi-auto, revolver semi-auto, revolver overall length N/A 300 mm or shorter overall height N/A 150 mm or shorter overall width N/A 50 mm or shorter barrel length 153 mm or shorter N/A sight radius 220 mm or shorter N/A weight 1500 g or lighter 1260 g or lighter 7.2 Categories of Rifle Calibers There are restrictions on what rifle caliber you can use in what rifle shooting sport. The following list shows the categories of calibers you can use in a specific rifle shooting sport in Japan. Target Shooting Small Bore .22 LR only Large Bore Smaller than 8 mm (approx. .31 caliber) (.222 to .30-06 are common) Hunting Larger than 5.9 mm and not larger than 10.5 mm (approx. .23 to .41 caliber) (.243 Win to .375 H&H Magnum are common) 8 References Special Issue Gun Part I (1981). pp. 214-242. Kokusai Shuppan: Tokyo. Wachi, K. (1982). Gun Ownership ABC, Air Rifles. _Gun, Jul_. pp. 113-114. Kokusai Shuppan: Tokyo. Wachi, K. (1983A). Gun Ownership ABC, Shotguns. _Gun, Jan_. pp. 114-116. Kokusai Shuppan: Tokyo. Wachi, K. (1983B). Gun Ownership ABC, Shotguns 2. _Gun, Feb_. pp. 114-117. Kokusai Shuppan: Tokyo. EOT