necoandjeff <spam@schrepfer.com> wrote:
> <mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net> wrote in message
> news:cjat96$gdq$12@news.Stanford.EDU...

>> >> (BTW, do you know they actually SELL pocketknives in Japan? If you ever
>> >> visit the country, check it out.)
>>
>> > Ah, so if you can buy it, it is legal? Cool!!
>>
>> At these things called "stores"; Japan is very ultra-modern, ya know.

> Yes, I've also seen stores that sell shin-ken. But that doesn't mean that
> just anyone can walk in, buy one and then carry it around in public
> though...

Given that they're sold as "pocketknives", and typically people put them
in pockets (and, as was pointed out by both Syrn and myself) you could
actually carry them onto planes prior to 9/11), it would seem the
Japanese have less of an issue with this than you or others pretend.

Mike