Harry Potter Sword Replicas Face Recall in Japan for Violating Weapons Regulations

The replicas, sold at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, were reported as sharp enough to be classified as actual swords under Japanese law, leading to a recall notice.

Warner Bros. Studio Japan LLC has initiated a recall for full-sized replicas of Godric Gryffindor's sword, a popular item for fans of the Harry Potter franchise. The replica swords, measuring 86cm (34 inches) and attached to a wooden plaque, were made available for purchase from May 2023 until late April 2024. It wasn’t until November that Japanese authorities informed the company of the sword's sharpness, which categorizes it under actual sword regulations.

According to reports, over 350 units of these replicas were sold at a retail price of 30,000 yen (approximately $200 or £158) at the newly opened Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter. This studio tour, the first of its kind in Asia, is celebrated as the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction worldwide.

The issued recall notice on Warner Bros.'s website indicated a "distribution issue in Japan," offering refunds and necessary logistical support to customers affected by the recall. However, the company has yet to respond to inquiries from media outlets regarding the situation.

Japan enforces stringent weapons regulations, with laws banning knives longer than 6cm (2 inches), incurring potential prison sentences of up to two years for violators. Replicas deemed sharp enough to classify as swords under Japan’s Firearms and Swords Control Law must be registered with authorities unless they are designated purely for training or decorative purposes and are incapable of being sharpened.

While Japan maintains a very low crime rate, incidents involving weapons do occur. A notable example occurred last year when a 78-year-old man was arrested in Yokohama for attacking his neighbor with a ceremonial samurai sword during a dispute.