Man Arrested in Japan for Wielding Three Knives Like a Manga Character

On the morning of January 25, 2026, a 47-year-old unemployed man was arrested in Nitate, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, on suspicion of violating Japan's Swords and Firearms Control Law. He was found walking on a street with three knives, held in both hands and in his mouth.

According to the Karatsu Police Station, the arrested man was in possession of three knives with blade lengths of approximately 18 cm, 17.5 cm, and 13.5 cm. At around 8:30 AM, police received a report from a woman stating, "There's a man with knives." Officers rushed to the scene, located the man, and arrested him on the spot.

During questioning, the man claimed he "was on his way to a friend's house to get vegetables" and has denied the charges.

This unusual arrest has become a major topic on social media. Many users, particularly noting the peculiar sight of three knives held in both hands and in the mouth, drew parallels to the "Santoryu" (Three-Sword Style) wielded by Roronoa Zoro, a character from the popular manga and anime series 'ONE PIECE.' Comments expressing surprise and confusion, such as "Zoro with his Santoryu has appeared!" and "This news is too intense just by reading it," spread widely. Some also offered more sober remarks like "Too dangerous" and "The Japanese (description) is difficult to comprehend" (referring to the strange details of the incident).

Police are continuing to investigate the detailed motives behind why the man was carrying knives in such a manner.

The context

For non-Japanese readers, it's important to understand that Japan has extremely strict laws regarding weapon possession, particularly knives. The "Swords and Firearms Control Law" (銃刀法, Jūtōhō) prohibits carrying knives with blades exceeding a certain length (typically 6 cm) in public without a legitimate reason (e.g., a chef going to work with their tools). Even then, knives must be properly sheathed and transported discreetly. The act of openly carrying three knives, especially one in the mouth, is highly unusual and illegal.

The cultural reference to Roronoa Zoro from the globally popular manga 'ONE PIECE' is key to understanding the public's reaction. Zoro is a master swordsman known for his unique "Santoryu" (Three-Sword Style), where he wields two swords in his hands and a third clenched in his mouth. This iconic fighting style made the news story instantly recognizable and humorous (despite the dangerous reality) to many Japanese social media users.