Authorities in Japan have mandated the recall of Harry Potter sword replicas, as they violate the nation's stringent laws on weaponry due to their sharpness.
Harry Potter Sword Replicas Recalled in Japan for Violating Weapons Laws
Harry Potter Sword Replicas Recalled in Japan for Violating Weapons Laws
Warner Bros. recalls Godric Gryffindor sword replicas after they are classified as actual weapons.
The iconic prop from the Harry Potter series, Godric Gryffindor's sword, has recently found itself at the center of a legal issue in Japan. Full-sized replicas measuring 86cm (34 inches) were sold by Warner Bros. Studio Japan LLC from May 2023 until April this year but faced scrutiny when authorities declared them sharp enough to be classified under the country’s rigorous weapons laws.
More than 350 units were sold at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter, which celebrated its opening in 2023 as the first large-scale Harry Potter studio tour in Asia. Priced at around 30,000 yen (approximately $200; £158), these collectibles were intended for fans but ended up being deemed violations of Japan's Firearms and Swords Control Law, which prohibits carrying knives longer than 6cm (2 inches).
In response, Warner Bros. has issued a recall notice on its website, addressing a "distribution issue in Japan." They have urged customers who purchased the swords to reach out for logistics and refunds. As of now, there has been no immediate comment from the company regarding this matter.
Japan's strict weapon regulations require all swords classified as sharp weapons to be registered with local authorities unless they are purely decorative or for training purposes. Although the nation enjoys low levels of violent crime, there have been notable incidents involving weapons, including a 78-year-old man's arrest for attacking a neighbor with a ceremonial samurai sword and a previous attack linked to weapons found at a Tokyo shrine leading to multiple fatalities.
More than 350 units were sold at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter, which celebrated its opening in 2023 as the first large-scale Harry Potter studio tour in Asia. Priced at around 30,000 yen (approximately $200; £158), these collectibles were intended for fans but ended up being deemed violations of Japan's Firearms and Swords Control Law, which prohibits carrying knives longer than 6cm (2 inches).
In response, Warner Bros. has issued a recall notice on its website, addressing a "distribution issue in Japan." They have urged customers who purchased the swords to reach out for logistics and refunds. As of now, there has been no immediate comment from the company regarding this matter.
Japan's strict weapon regulations require all swords classified as sharp weapons to be registered with local authorities unless they are purely decorative or for training purposes. Although the nation enjoys low levels of violent crime, there have been notable incidents involving weapons, including a 78-year-old man's arrest for attacking a neighbor with a ceremonial samurai sword and a previous attack linked to weapons found at a Tokyo shrine leading to multiple fatalities.
