As stipulated in the Firearm and Sword Control Law, in order to possess modern guns, he or she has to be licensed or permitted to do so, while in order to possess ancient guns, the guns themselves must be registered, which is under the jurisdiction of prefectural boards of education (formerly, under the jurisdiction of the Commission for the Protection of Cultural Properties).
銃刀法に定める範囲の古式銃の所持は、現代銃と異なり属人的な免許・許可ではなく、属物的な登録制で、登録は都道府県教育委員会の所管（かつては文化財保護委員会であった）である。