What Is the Torokusho? The 'ID' That Travels with a Japanese Sword

The torokusho (firearms and swords registration certificate) is indispensable for lawfully owning a Japanese sword. Yet its nature is surprisingly often misunderstood. Here we organize the basics of the certificate.

The Certificate Belongs to the Sword — It Is Not a Personal License

The most important point is that the registration certificate is attached to the sword as an object. It is not a license granted to the individual owner.

As a result, even when the owner changes, the certificate stays with the sword and travels with it. The new owner does not need to have the certificate reissued; they simply file a Notification of Change of Owner (see our guide to the Notification of Change of Owner). It helps to think of it as one certificate per sword.

No Expiry, No Renewal

Permits to possess firearms (handguns, hunting guns, etc.) have a term of validity and require periodic renewal. However, sword registration has no term of validity and no renewal system. Once registered, the registration is permanent.

That said, if the certificate is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you must report this to the issuing Board of Education and obtain a reissue (see our guide on a lost certificate).

Keep the Certificate with the Sword When Transferring, Entrusting, or Shipping It

When you transfer, lend, entrust for storage (such as sending it for polishing), or have a third party (such as a courier) transport the sword, the Firearms and Swords Control Law (Art. 18) requires that the registration certificate accompany the sword. The certificate also may not be transferred separately from the sword. There is no provision that directly mandates carrying the certificate when you personally carry the sword, but it is strongly recommended that you keep the certificate with you whenever you move the sword, so you can show at any time that it is lawfully registered. The certificate is also required when selling or transferring the sword.

Registration Is Performed by the Prefectural Board of Education

Sword registration is carried out by the prefectural Board of Education — not by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and not by the police. The objects eligible for registration are "Japanese swords with value as art objects," a standard applied under the Firearms and Swords Registration Regulations and related rules. Swords mass-produced by machine or industrial methods (such as some Showa-to) may not meet this standard of artistic value and may not be registered.

Note that the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho) is involved in matters such as evaluating cultural-property value and export examination, but the body that actually performs the registration is the prefectural Board of Education.

Disclaimer

This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Procedures and requirements may vary depending on the condition of the sword and the practices of each prefecture. For decisions or procedures specific to your situation, please confirm with your nearest police station, the registering prefectural Board of Education, the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho), or a qualified professional.