Danke Schön! I'm still working out the flow, editing, and well, everything but I'm getting there! I've never been to Kyushu but I'll go there... eventually!
Yes, very weird not to have a knife with you. its pretty challenging even as a thought. What if youre auto vehicle catches fire again? How to escape jammed seatbelts again? How to cut cheese and pepperoni again? How cut fruits again? How to make a sandwich? Very difficult life is without a knife.
this was very helpful! I plan to move to japan next year and now I know i can't carry my pocket knives around with me. Probably keep one at home for opening letters lol. Thank you!
Having been in Japan recently I wanted to purchase a piece of Japanese Art. The Art in question was a hunting knife ( I’m a hunter) After researching the laws I was appalled at how punitive the Japanese are regarding carriage and possession. I was allowed to spend 620,000 YEN to buy, but not allowed to open or show my family prior to leaving Japan as this would mean breaking the law. I respect Japan and the laws of their choosing. But seriously, I feel this is excessive to say the least. I ultimately decided to error on the side of caution and NOT make the purchase for fear being in violation.
I had a question im a baptized sikh from Canada looking to visit japan. As a baptized sikh we carry something called the 5ks they are articles of faith and one is called Kirpan(dagger). Usually when i travel to other countries i have special one which i wear under my clothes around the neck which is 5.25cm full length blade is only about 2cms what that be allowed? Very confused about this.
So I actually spent some time looking this up in Japanese because it is such a specific instance, and I found nothing. Given that the blade itself is 2cm, and you’re carrying it around with a purpose, your religion, I can’t see any problems with it but I’m not a lawyer or police officer so I don’t have the final say. HOWEVER, the ‘carry around with purpose’ has such ambiguity to it that each police officer can apply the meaning differently. I actually want to call the police bureau and figure this out, but at this point, I have no useful information and for that I apologize.
Hello! I went to a police station to ask and here was the result. It is a gray area. Like I stated in my previous post, because the blade is 2cm long, it doesn't fall under the more severe knife law. It does still fall under the minor crime law. The police officer told me that if it is hidden under your clothes, like you state that you do, it is concealed carry and thus, if the police search you and you have it, it could spell trouble. At the same time, if you get searched, and they find the Kirpan, officers may be okay the purpose. On the other hand, if you display it openly, and you have a purpose, which is your religion, it should be okay, but more than likely you'll get stopped about it a lot, and it may cause hassle/trouble. Every police officer and their application of the law is slightly different. The best bet would be to keep it in your hotel room / luggage, but given that its a core part of your religion, that may be difficult. In the end, my first response to your question still stands. It's very ambiguous, and I don't have a good answer. I'm sure many Sikh who visit Japan just carry it around (concealed) and have no problems, but I cannot be the one to say 'carry it' or 'don't carry it'. I'm really curious about this so I may do some more research in the future. I actually have a question for you. When you ride an airplane, they ask to remove any blades and dangerous items and to place them in your checked luggage. Do they give you an exception for the Kirpan?
@ within Canada in planes we are allowed to wear it up to 6cm. International flights we must put it in checked luggage we don’t really have a choice. One last question what are the chances of police searching me? Do they search and question tourist alot or something? Also thank you very much for doing that for me!
@@AkaaliNihang Apologies for the late response, it didn't show up in my notifications. I will be frank with you. In general, the chances of you getting stopped are low. However, if you're not verifiably east asian or white, the chances of you getting stopped are slightly higher, especially if you're off the beaten tourist path. I wish this wasn't a thing in Japan or any country, but it is. The police would most likely ask you for your paperwork such as a work visa, ID card, or if you're a tourist, your passport. Once they verify your identity and that you're in Japan legally, they'll leave you alone. Be very polite! Japanese police officers don't want to increase their workload or stress either. If the police ask to search you and they have no probable cause, you can refuse a search, but that would cause more problems than it's worth, especially if you're here for vacation. Japan is a secular society, but I've found that the large majority of people respect other religions. If a police officer were to find the kirpan on you, and you explained sincerely that it is an important part of your religion, most would ask you to put it away and leave it in your hotel room. Last thing to note when making your decision. During my google searching in Japanese, an article about someone with a Kirpan getting arrested and charged never came up.
Would I still be allowed to fly to Japan with a pocket knife in a checked bag as long as it is under 15 cm, not a switchblade or weapon of any kind, and is kept stored in the place I'm renting? I'd like to bring my Higonokami, and maybe buy a few more in Hyogo, but I also don't wanna risk my freedom over silly laws.
I’m not a lawyer or anything, but if it’s under 15cm, it should be ok. From my understanding, if you’re bringing it from point A to point B, it should be ok. Just don’t carry around the blade ‘just in case’ or ‘to be handy’. The knife you saw in my video was brought from the airport to my place of residence without issue. It’s not illegal to have a blade, it just depends on how you use it and carry it around.
It is very informative and well researched - Concise and on point.
thanks for good and simple explonation aboun knife rules in japan. and your example latherman is perfect!
OMG THANK YOU for this video!! I am from California and this was definitely a question of mine!!
Ohh, a new channel! Hi 😊I'm sure the channel will grow fast. The video was really good and well put together!!
👋Best wishes from Fukuoka!
Danke Schön! I'm still working out the flow, editing, and well, everything but I'm getting there! I've never been to Kyushu but I'll go there... eventually!
Yes, very weird not to have a knife with you. its pretty challenging even as a thought. What if youre auto vehicle catches fire again? How to escape jammed seatbelts again? How to cut cheese and pepperoni again? How cut fruits again? How to make a sandwich? Very difficult life is without a knife.
Just gotta have your cheese and pepperoni on you at all times for probable knife use haha
@@JapanReality Well exactly! 😀 Loads of fruits etc in the bagpack.
this was very helpful! I plan to move to japan next year and now I know i can't carry my pocket knives around with me. Probably keep one at home for opening letters lol. Thank you!
Having been in Japan recently I wanted to purchase a piece of Japanese Art. The Art in question was a hunting knife ( I’m a hunter) After researching the laws I was appalled at how punitive the Japanese are regarding carriage and possession. I was allowed to spend 620,000 YEN to buy, but not allowed to open or show my family prior to leaving Japan as this would mean breaking the law. I respect Japan and the laws of their choosing. But seriously, I feel this is excessive to say the least. I ultimately decided to error on the side of caution and NOT make the purchase for fear being in violation.
not only in Japan, in Chile also is illegal carry a pocket knife or any kind of knife or even scissors at street if get caught would get in a problem
I was wondering cause I fish a lot and am going to Japan this video was excactly what I was looking for
I had a question im a baptized sikh from Canada looking to visit japan. As a baptized sikh we carry something called the 5ks they are articles of faith and one is called Kirpan(dagger). Usually when i travel to other countries i have special one which i wear under my clothes around the neck which is 5.25cm full length blade is only about 2cms what that be allowed? Very confused about this.
So I actually spent some time looking this up in Japanese because it is such a specific instance, and I found nothing. Given that the blade itself is 2cm, and you’re carrying it around with a purpose, your religion, I can’t see any problems with it but I’m not a lawyer or police officer so I don’t have the final say.
HOWEVER, the ‘carry around with purpose’ has such ambiguity to it that each police officer can apply the meaning differently.
I actually want to call the police bureau and figure this out, but at this point, I have no useful information and for that I apologize.
Hello! I went to a police station to ask and here was the result.
It is a gray area. Like I stated in my previous post, because the blade is 2cm long, it doesn't fall under the more severe knife law. It does still fall under the minor crime law. The police officer told me that if it is hidden under your clothes, like you state that you do, it is concealed carry and thus, if the police search you and you have it, it could spell trouble. At the same time, if you get searched, and they find the Kirpan, officers may be okay the purpose.
On the other hand, if you display it openly, and you have a purpose, which is your religion, it should be okay, but more than likely you'll get stopped about it a lot, and it may cause hassle/trouble. Every police officer and their application of the law is slightly different.
The best bet would be to keep it in your hotel room / luggage, but given that its a core part of your religion, that may be difficult.
In the end, my first response to your question still stands. It's very ambiguous, and I don't have a good answer. I'm sure many Sikh who visit Japan just carry it around (concealed) and have no problems, but I cannot be the one to say 'carry it' or 'don't carry it'.
I'm really curious about this so I may do some more research in the future.
I actually have a question for you. When you ride an airplane, they ask to remove any blades and dangerous items and to place them in your checked luggage. Do they give you an exception for the Kirpan?
@ within Canada in planes we are allowed to wear it up to 6cm. International flights we must put it in checked luggage we don’t really have a choice. One last question what are the chances of police searching me? Do they search and question tourist alot or something? Also thank you very much for doing that for me!
@@AkaaliNihang Apologies for the late response, it didn't show up in my notifications.
I will be frank with you. In general, the chances of you getting stopped are low. However, if you're not verifiably east asian or white, the chances of you getting stopped are slightly higher, especially if you're off the beaten tourist path. I wish this wasn't a thing in Japan or any country, but it is.
The police would most likely ask you for your paperwork such as a work visa, ID card, or if you're a tourist, your passport.
Once they verify your identity and that you're in Japan legally, they'll leave you alone. Be very polite! Japanese police officers don't want to increase their workload or stress either.
If the police ask to search you and they have no probable cause, you can refuse a search, but that would cause more problems than it's worth, especially if you're here for vacation.
Japan is a secular society, but I've found that the large majority of people respect other religions.
If a police officer were to find the kirpan on you, and you explained sincerely that it is an important part of your religion, most would ask you to put it away and leave it in your hotel room.
Last thing to note when making your decision. During my google searching in Japanese, an article about someone with a Kirpan getting arrested and charged never came up.
I didn't know this!
ngl I think it's pretty weird to carry a knife around outside.
for what?
It’s a pretty standard American countryside thing to have a knife just in case for anything and everything!
Would I still be allowed to fly to Japan with a pocket knife in a checked bag as long as it is under 15 cm, not a switchblade or weapon of any kind, and is kept stored in the place I'm renting? I'd like to bring my Higonokami, and maybe buy a few more in Hyogo, but I also don't wanna risk my freedom over silly laws.
I’m not a lawyer or anything, but if it’s under 15cm, it should be ok.
From my understanding, if you’re bringing it from point A to point B, it should be ok. Just don’t carry around the blade ‘just in case’ or ‘to be handy’.
The knife you saw in my video was brought from the airport to my place of residence without issue. It’s not illegal to have a blade, it just depends on how you use it and carry it around.