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==Gun Control and Crime==
==Gun Control and Crime==
The Firearms Act opens by stating "No-one shall possess a fire-arm or fire-arms or a sword or swords" and there are very few exceptions to this rule.<ref>'Law Controlling Possession, Etc. of Fire-Arms and Swords' (1978), Law No 6, Art 3, EHS Law Bulletin Series, No 3920.</ref> The only firearm a Japanese citizen may own is a rifle or shotgun. Sportsmen are permitted to possess shotguns or rifles for hunting (hunting licenses are valid for 3 years) and for skeet and trap shooting, but only after a lengthy licensing procedure.<ref>'Law Controlling Possession, Etc. of Fire-Arms and Swords' (1978), Law No 6, Art 4-23</ref> Without a license, a person may not even hold a gun in their hands.
This has resulted in a tiny proportion of citizens owning guns privately (approximately 150 000 licenses in a population of 100 million <ref>0.6% of households, in a population of 100 million and assuming 4 people per household</ref>). However, gun-related crimes in Japan are also infrequent.
===Licensing===
The licensing procedure is thorough and strenuous. Any prospective gun owner has to first attend classes and pass a written exam. This is followed by classes held on a shooting range and a shooting test. 95% of applicants usually pass. <ref>The test covers the maintenance and inspection of the gun, loading and unloading cartridges, shooting from various positions, and target practice for stationary and moving objects. "Gun Control Laws in Foreign Countries; 1981; Library of Congress; Washington; Page 130</ref>
Even if they pass the safety exam, applicants then undertake a simple "mental aptitude test" at a local hospital, which ensures that the applicant is not suffering from any readily detectable mental illness. The applicant then provides the police with a medical certificate attesting that they are is mentally sound and not addicted to drugs. The total cost of the procedure is some ￥15000 ($150), with an additional ￥17000 ($170) for a 3-month hunting license.<ref>Article 29 of the Act</ref>