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A twenty-seven year old Japanese man was arrested on suspicion of printing and possessing guns. This is the first instance of such an arrest being made in Japan.


According to ANN News, Yoshitomo Imura allegedly downloaded gun blueprints from a foreign site and then printed the resin guns with his 3D printer.

Imura had apparently uploaded videos to YouTube in which he fired off what looks to be a 3D printed pistol. Last month, police seized five 3D printed guns from Imura's Kawasaki City home.


According to authorities, it was possible with two of the guns to pierce over ten pieces of plywood by firing rounds, and thus, the police deemed it was possible to use the guns to kill.

"I made them myself," Imura is quoted as saying, "but, I didn't know they were illegal."

It is possible to own guns in Japan, but the country has incredibly strict firearms regulations. It's not clear whether others will be also arrested for printing guns, but we're pretty sure this wry Twitter user will evade the law with his printed "gun."


Yes, the kanji character "jyuu" (銃) means "gun."

3Dプリンターで製造した殺傷能力ある銃を所持で逮捕 [ANN News]

3Dプリンター悪用 樹脂製"殺傷可能"拳銃を製造 [ANN News]

To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft .

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