<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=22322.msg902246#msg902246">Quote from: Haibane on 27-10-2008, 23:37:13</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">EDIT: Akiko: Wow. Are katana carried openly in Japan like that? Isn't that illegal? That's a seriously dangerous weapon. I can't believe that's lawful!<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>I think it is illegal, even if her family is old nobility or very distinguished. One of my friends practices kendo, and if I remember correctly, it's an offense to carry even a<em>shinai</em>in public if it's not in a proper bag / case; if that's true, then that would make carrying live steel a much greater offense.<br/><br/>Also, I believe it's possible to get a license to carry a sharpened sword or similar blade weapon - however, it must be inside a bag at all times when traveling between home and a practice dojo, with the license attached to the carrying case. Taking it out can get you reported to the police.<br/><br/><br/>From somewhere:<br/><strong>FIREARMS AND SWORDS CONTROL</strong><br/><br/><em>Licenses for possession of swords are issued for individual swords for specific applications such as hunting, eradication of noxious birds and animals, slaughter of animals, fishing or construction, cases where possession is unavoidable due to Japanese customs and practice, cases where possession is unavoidable for plays or other artistic performances, and cases where such items are used for display in museums.</em>