Guns are not entirely banned in Japan, but the country comes close. Civilians may legally own only shotguns and air rifles, and only for hunting, pest control, or competitive sport shooting. Handguns, rifles, and automatic weapons are off-limits to private citizens, and self-defense is not a valid reason to apply for any firearm. The licensing process for the guns that are allowed is deliberately slow, expensive, and intrusive, which is why licensed firearms number around 177,700 in a country of more than 125 million people.
What Civilians Can and Cannot Own
The only firearms available to civilians are shotguns (called hunting guns) and air rifles. Under Japanese law these are classified separately from “arms” and are permitted exclusively for hunting, pest control, or sport shooting.1Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. National Report on the Implementation of Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects An applicant who cannot show a legitimate sporting or hunting purpose will not get a license.
Everything else is prohibited for private ownership: handguns, automatic weapons, machine guns, and military rifles. Japan’s Customs Tariff Law separately bars the import of these weapons and their ammunition and component parts.1Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. National Report on the Implementation of Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects Firearm parts and structural components that do not meet legal standards are also banned from possession.2Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. Firearms And Swords Control Law Ammunition itself is tightly capped, and all purchases are tracked, so stockpiling rounds is not an option.
In 2021, roughly 88,000 people held permits for hunting rifles and air guns. That works out to about one licensed firearm per 700 residents.
How the Licensing Process Works
Getting permission to own even a permitted firearm typically takes several months. The process is designed to filter out all but the most committed applicants.
Applicants must be at least 20 years old for shotguns and hunting guns, and at least 18 for air guns. Applications go to the Prefectural Public Safety Commission, filed through the local police, which has broad discretion to deny.2Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. Firearms And Swords Control Law
Applicants must pass a written examination on firearms law and safety, complete a formal shooting practice course, and demonstrate proficiency in a practical shooting test. Failing any one of these ends the process.
The background investigation is what really sets Japan apart. Police look into the applicant’s personal relationships, employment, finances, and any connection to organized crime. A criminal record or a history of drug use is an automatic disqualifier.2Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. Firearms And Swords Control Law Applicants also undergo psychiatric evaluation and drug testing at a hospital. Police then interview family members, neighbors, and sometimes coworkers to assess whether the applicant is stable and trustworthy. Fees for the safety course, skill examination, and license itself run to roughly ¥15,000 combined, before medical exams, a mandatory gun locker, and the firearm are added on.
Storage, Inspections, and Renewal
A license is not a one-time hurdle. Licensed owners must store firearms in dedicated gun lockers and keep ammunition stored separately, with the locations of both registered with local police. Police conduct annual inspections at which the owner must physically present the firearm.1Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. National Report on the Implementation of Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects
Licenses expire after three years. Renewal requires a refresher shooting course, a current mental health certificate, and what amounts to a full re-application. If the owner’s circumstances have changed in ways that raise concern, the license will not be renewed.
Penalties for Illegal Possession
Illegal firearm possession is treated as a serious criminal offense. Unauthorized possession can result in years of imprisonment. When the offense involves organized crime, the maximum sentence rises to 15 years. Firing a gun in a public space can carry a life sentence. Helping someone else possess a firearm illegally can also lead to prison and fines.
Japanese prosecutors have conviction rates exceeding 99%, and courts apply firearms sentences aggressively.
Are Airsoft Guns and Replicas Banned?
Airsoft guns are legal, and Japan is the birthplace of the modern airsoft industry. They are subject to energy limits: a maximum muzzle energy of roughly 0.989 joules using standard 6mm BBs, with a lower ceiling of 0.135 joules for guns sold to minors. Anything above those thresholds is treated as a firearm and falls under the same prohibitions as a real gun. Model guns and replicas are regulated separately to prevent them from being mistaken for real firearms.
What the Rules Produce in Practice
The regulatory framework shows up plainly in the numbers. Japan consistently records single-digit annual gun deaths. In 2024, two people were killed by gunfire, and both were members of organized crime groups. In 2021, there was one firearm homicide nationwide. When gun violence does occur, it is overwhelmingly linked to yakuza activity rather than to random crime.
The 2022 Reforms After the Abe Assassination
The July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a homemade weapon exposed a gap the existing law had not fully addressed. The attacker used an improvised gun assembled from commercially available parts, which technically fell outside some of the law’s existing definitions.
The National Police Agency responded with a package of revisions. Penalties were tightened for possessing homemade guns intended to harm people, even when those weapons do not match the traditional legal definition of a firearm. The scope of crimes related to discharging a weapon was expanded to cover hunting guns as well as handguns. Authorities also moved to restrict online posts explaining how to manufacture or transfer guns in ways that encourage illegal possession. Requirements were tightened for so-called “half-rifle” hunting guns, which had previously been easier to obtain than full rifles despite similar capabilities.