Replicas of a sword featured in the Harry Potter film franchise have been recalled in Japan after being found to breach the country's stringent weapons laws. The replicas of Godric Gryffindor's sword, measuring 86cm (34 inches), were sold by Warner Bros. Studio Japan LLC from May 2023 until late April of this year. Authorities informed the company in November that these items were sharp enough to be classified as actual swords under Japanese regulations.
More than 350 units of the Godric Gryffindor replicas were sold at a price of 30,000 yen ($200; £158) each and were available at the newly opened Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter, touted as the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction and the first studio tour in Asia.
In response, Warner Bros. Studios Japan LLC has issued a recall notice detailing "a distribution issue in Japan", encouraging customers who purchased the replicas to reach out for "necessary action including logistics and refund." The company has yet to comment on the situation following a request for clarification from the BBC.
Japan's laws governing weapons are notably strict, prohibiting the carry of any knives exceeding 6cm (2 inches) in length, with offenders facing potential prison sentences of up to two years. Replicas deemed sharp enough to qualify as swords under the Firearms and Swords Control Law require registration with authorities, barring those categorized specifically for training or decorative purposes and rendered unsharpened.
Although Japan is known for its low crime rates, isolated incidents involving weapons do occur. Notably, a 78-year-old man was arrested in Yokohama last year for attacking a neighbor with a ceremonial samurai sword during a dispute. Additionally, in 2017, a samurai sword was discovered at a Tokyo shrine, involved in an attack that resulted in three fatalities.
