In brief
Warner Bros. Studio Japan has recalled over 350 replicas of Godric Gryffindor's sword, sold between May 2023 and April 2024, after authorities deemed them sharp enough to violate Japan's stringent weapons laws. Shoppers are urged to contact the company for refunds and logistics as the sale of these swords, priced at 30,000 yen each, raised safety concerns under existing regulations.
Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett CollectionThe sword of Godric Gryffindor can be seen here in the movie. Replicas of a sword featured in the Harry Potter film franchise have been recalled in Japan for violating the country's strict weapons law. The full-sized replicas of Godric Gryffindor's sword - which measure 86cm (34 inches) and are affixed to a wooden display plaque - were sold by Warner Bros. Studio Japan LLC from May 2023 to late April of this year.However, it was only in November that authorities notified the company those pieces were sharp enough to be categorized as actual swords. More than 350 replicas of Godric Gryffindor's sword were sold, reports indicate, with each one priced at 30,000 yen ($200; £158). The sword was sold at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter, which opened in 2023 in Tokyo, touted as the first such studio tour in Asia and the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction globally.Warner Bros. Studios Japan LLC has published a recall notice for the sword on its website, citing “a distribution issue in Japan” and requesting individuals who purchased it to get in contact for “necessary action including logistics and refund." The company did not respond immediately to the BBC’s request for comment.Under Japan’s strict weapons law, carrying knives over 6cm (2 inches) is banned, with violators facing up to two years in prison. Replicas that are sharp enough to be classified as swords under the Firearms and Swords Control Law must be registered with authorities unless they are intended for training or decoration and cannot be sharpened.Japan has very low levels of violence, though crimes involving weapons do occur from time to time. For instance, last year, a 78-year-old man was arrested in Yokohama after attacking his neighbor with a ceremonial samurai sword during a dispute. In 2017, a samurai sword was discovered alongside other knives in a Tokyo shrine following an attack that left three individuals dead.
