The Basics of the Notification of Change of Owner: After Inheriting or Buying a Sword
Last updated: 2026-06-25
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When you obtain a Japanese sword with a registration certificate through inheritance or purchase, you must notify the authorities that the owner has changed. This is the Notification of Change of Owner. It is not a difficult procedure, but the destination and the deadline are easy to get wrong, so let us clarify them here.
Who Files, and When
A person who has received by transfer, inherited, been loaned, or been entrusted with the custody of a registered sword bears the obligation to notify, as the new possessor.
The deadline is promptly, within 20 days, after acquisition. Note that it is 20 days, not 30. In the case of inheritance, the deadline is counted from the point at which you actually take possession of the sword, after estate division and the like.
Where to File — This Is the Most Common Mistake
The notification goes to the prefectural Board of Education that registered the sword (the one that issued the certificate).
A common misunderstanding is that "you file with the Board of Education where you currently live" — this is wrong. For example, if a sword whose certificate was issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education is inherited by a person residing in Osaka, the notification still goes to the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education. You file with the place of registration, not your place of residence.
Take particular care with this distinction from new registration:
- New registration (newly registering an unregistered sword) → the Board of Education of your place of residence
- Notification of Change of Owner (the owner of an already-registered sword has changed) → the Board of Education of the
FAQ
Where do I file the Notification of Change of Owner?
With the prefectural Board of Education that registered the sword (issued the certificate) — not the Board of Education where you currently live. For example, if a sword with a Tokyo-issued certificate is inherited by an Osaka resident, the notification still goes to the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education. Note the distinction: new registration goes to your place of residence, but a change of owner goes to the place of registration.
What is the deadline for the notification?
Promptly, within 20 days, after acquisition — not 30 days. In the case of inheritance, count from the point at which you actually take possession of the sword, after estate division and the like.
Will a new certificate be issued when I file the Notification of Change of Owner?
No. The notification is completed by notification only; it is neither a re-registration nor the issuing of a new certificate through a change of name. The certificate remains attached to the sword as it is.
Does the procedure differ for purchase versus inheritance?
The form is the same for purchase and inheritance. In both cases, file the Notification of Change of Owner promptly (within 20 days) after acquisition with the prefectural Board of Education at the place of registration (the issuer). Check that Board of Education's guidance for the exact form and submission method.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the relevant authorities or a qualified professional.
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