RISCON › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

PHOTO BY TARO FUJIMOTO

Wednesday 08th October, 05:18 PM JST

A visitor looks at rubber weapons at the Security & Safety Trade Expo 2008 (RISCON) being held at Tokyo Big Sight Wednesday. In the two-day exhibition that starts Thursday, 314 exhibitors are showing their latest security-related products and technology at 800 booths until Friday. Special affiliated exhibitions, the “Special Equipment & Conference for Anti-Terrorism ‘08” (SEECAT) and “Asbestos Removal Environment Exhibition ‘08” (ASBEX), will also be held at the same venue.

13 Comments

wanderlust at 06:10 PM JST - 8th October

Holding one of those the wrong way at night in many countries is enough to get yourself shot on suspicion. Rather surprised that they would be allowed to sell them here. More toys for the weekend warriors, or the Self-Defence Forces.....
Sebarashii at 06:19 PM JST - 8th October

Those rubber weapons are probably to be used for training to disarm an opponent. Well, that's the one probable use I can see there.
thepro at 07:48 PM JST - 8th October

Takes me back to the gun shows me old man used to take me to when I was young. Except those were real guns ;P
CavemanLawyer at 07:56 PM JST - 8th October

Holding one of those the wrong way at night in many countries is enough to get yourself shot on suspicion. Rather surprised that they would be allowed to sell them here.

Maybe it has something to do with Japan not being "one of those countries"? I could not be happier to live in a country so gun free that realistic looking toys are widely available. --Cirroc
bamboohat at 08:47 PM JST - 8th October

I wish this pic would show the really cool toys from the asbestos removal environmental exhibition.
GG2141 at 12:29 AM JST - 9th October

"rubber weapons" ???????????

Huh! "rubber", as in "made from rubber" (the same stuff as tires). What possible purpose could a "rubber" gun have. Japan is awash in disconcertingly well made plastic weapons, viss lasser sighting.

Why would anyone buy an inert lump of "rubber" fashioned into a weapon shape???
Smythe at 03:28 AM JST - 9th October

I agee with Sebarashii for some years ago the RCMP phoned me to ask for permission to use not only the range but also in indoor shooting section, for some training on specific two days.

I agreed & then they asked if I possibly had a rubber knife they could borrow only to say NO. Also being at night I knew it as training in stopping a car, to physical training during those hours & two days.
dammit at 06:00 AM JST - 9th October

If you look at the official site http://www.kikikanri.biz/english/list.html you'll find it's actually about disater management.

Even Cisco has a booth, and Gore-tex. I'm not wasting my time checking out all of them though, looks truly boring and I have no time to waste!

Trust JT to find a truly weird pic that does nothing to portray the real purpose of the show! What will people do with these rubber weapons anyway? Hit looters on the head with them?

PM; Major quake? Tokyo flattened? Panic? Chuck a few rubber hand grenades! That not working? Deploy the rubber nukes!

http://www.kikikanri.biz/english/
NuckinFutz at 07:35 AM JST - 9th October

New Japanese police issue perhaps? Can't shoot yourself in the foot that way (or at least it would be with a rubber bullet!)
Sarge at 08:28 AM JST - 9th October

"rubber weapons"

Are they lethal?
imacat at 09:44 AM JST - 9th October

Perhaps in the future all wars could be fought with rubber weapons.

It would make war more of a sport and less of a tragedy, and also level the playing field somewhat.
serindipity at 11:03 AM JST - 9th October

I'd conclude the rubber weapons are for display purposes due to security issues of displaying real weapons. I wonder if the police are gonna be there scanning for freaks! This would be the perfect opportunity to build up a database of potential trouble makers and gang members, but the police will be to busy patrolling the carparks for the real crime of, unregistered bicycles!
Osakadaz at 04:36 PM JST - 9th October

disaster management..obviously Ishihara Shintaro wants to know what toys are available to control the potential rioting gaijin hordes when the big one happens.