point (kissaki) and closer to the guard (tsuba) than other blades. Legislation The Act for Controlling the Possession of Firearms or Swords and Other Such Weapons, established in Japan in 1958, forbids the possession, production, and importation of any sharpened (or sharpenable) sword. Very few exceptions to this rule exists, but, notably, traditional Japanese swordsmiths are permitted to produce a restricted number of blades over the course of the year. Japanese swordsmiths have a special status, and the weapons they make are considered work of art rather than weapons. (This also explains why nihontō exported outside Japan must go through a declassification process before their exportation.) See also Battōjutsu Bokken Iaido Katana Kenjutsu References Practice swords of Japan