Japan’s National Police Agency Prohibits Use of Real Katana in Tourism Activities

Murayama, Yamagata Prefecture, known as the birthplace of iaido—a martial art focused on drawing and striking with a sword in one fluid motion—has been directed to halt the use of sharpened katana in its tourism programs. The decision, announced by Japan’s National Police Agency in December 2024, affects programs nationwide that allowed tourists to engage in tameshigiri, a practice involving cutting tatami reed targets with real swords.

Since 2017, the Murayama Tourism Association has offered iaido lessons, teaching visitors the history and techniques of the martial art, which originated with 16th-century swordsman Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, a local figure enshrined at the town’s Kumano Iaii Shrine. The program, which culminated in tourists wielding sharpened katana for tameshigiri, gained popularity, particularly among international visitors, and earned a 2020 award for excellence in Sports and Culture Tourism from the Japanese government. Following Murayama’s success, similar programs emerged in other regions with samurai heritage, such as Akita Prefecture.

The National Police Agency’s ruling cites Japan’s Firearm and Sword Control Law, stating that allowing unregistered individuals, such as tourists, to use sharpened, registered swords for entertainment violates regulations. While the Yamagata Prefectural Police had initially approved Murayama’s program in 2017, provided it was adequately supervised, the national directive has prompted a shift. Murayama now offers tameshigiri demonstrations performed by instructors, excluding tourists from handling sharpened blades. Other regions have followed suit, with some reporting a decline in program bookings.

Japan strictly regulates swords due to their historical significance and potential as weapons. For example, the Firearm and Sword Control Law, enacted in 1958 and amended over time, requires registration of authentic swords and limits their use to preserve public safety. Murayama’s iaido lessons continue without tameshigiri, aiming to sustain interest in the martial art. Local tourism officials and martial arts instructors, including those in Akita, have expressed disappointment, noting the activity’s role as a major draw for cultural tourism.