@vitalis @japananon @hakui Their laws regarding swords are frankly insane, even during the tokugawa period the laws were more reasonable.

There are only two ways to legally own one: to get a special license as part of a recognized dojo, or to register one as a piece of art to be held decoratively in your house. The latter requires it be a historical blade or manufactured through traditional means by a licensed smith. The former is slightly more lax but not by much.