I’m not going to brag about anything in Japan because I love the U.S.

I worked for an American

company for a long time and I met my husband at an American college program.

However, I want to tell the world the reality of life in Japan. Children in the U.S. deserve the same.
This is what I’d like to say as the parent of a young girl.

Below 10 Deaths Per Year from Gunfire

With a 125 million population, the Japanese rarely witness gun shootings. On average, there are
fewer than 10 deaths every year from gun violence.

If you’re going to buy a gun in Japan, you need to attend a one-day class and pass both a written test
and a shooting test. Then, the background checks start. They include a mental health evaluation,
criminal record check, and interviews with your friends and family. And what you can buy after these
steps are air rifles and shotguns—no handguns.

Even after you’re certified, you have to register where you store the gun and the ammunition. You
need to store them separately under lock and key. The police will inspect your guns every year, and
you also have to attend the class and pass the exam every three years to renew your firearm license.

Japanese media reports the minimum cost to become a gun owner is approximately ¥115,000 ($905)
because of all the licenses and fees to use the police-approved gun and ammunition lockers.